By Staff Writer
The Burien City Council will hold a Special Meeting this Thursday, June 15th, at 7 pm regarding the recent actions of Charles Schaefer (Planning Commission) and Cydney Moore (Council Member).
The purpose of the meeting is to “show why the Council should not censure” Moore and Schaefer after their involvement in the recent moving of homeless camps raised questions about the legality of their actions.
Schaefer may be censured, demoted, or removed from his post depending on the result of the meeting. According to the Agenda Bill “there is no option to remove Council member Moore because a council member can only be removed after an election or by a successful recall and discharge effort under RCW 29A.56.110.”
The Agenda Bill for Cydney Moore can be found here
The Agenda Bill for Charles Schaefer can be found here
Below are the allegations cited in the Agenda Bill against Council Member Moore:
- Providing false information to unhoused people (that they could reside on Burien property).
- Violating or causing the unhoused to violate Burien’s ordinances by sending, directing, or encouraging the unhoused to camp on Burien park property, which is a crime under BMC 7.30.110 (No person shall camp in any park area including any park parking lot) and BMC 1.15.080 (The violation of any regulation is unlawful … any violation of this code shall constitute a misdemeanor).
- Interfering with the City Manager’s administration of Burien’s day-to-day operations and execution of City Council policies and objectives.
- Failing to avoid the appearance of speaking on behalf of the City of Burien without the Council’s authorization.
- Harming Burien’s reputation (Council member Moore’s actions caused an increase in negative media coverage and inaccurate communications that alleged that Burien was violating constitutional law and conducting unlawful sweeps).
- After speaking with the media, Council member Moore failed to immediately notify the City Manager or Communications Manager about something that could impact or reflect negatively on Burien, its officials, staff, or its business.
- Contributing to, creating, or exacerbating the situation that harms Burien’s relationships with its partners, including King County and the King County Sheriff’s Office.
- Taking actions that undermine or attempt to undermine or thwart the council’s action, authority, decision(s), deliberation, discretion, or options regarding the unhoused. (See Burien Rules of Order 6.20)
- Engaged in activity that the Council would not permit to be unilaterally performed by staff or the public.
Below are the allegations cited in the Agenda Bill against Planning Commission Chair Schaefer:
- Providing false information to unhoused people (that they could reside on Burien property).
- Violating or causing the unhoused to violate Burien’s ordinances by sending, directing, or encouraging the unhoused to camp on Burien park property, which is a crime under BMC 7.30.110 (No person shall camp in any park area, including any park parking lot) and BMC 1.15.080 (The violation of any regulation is unlawful… any violation of this code shall constitute a misdemeanor). (Handbook, p. 4)
- Interfering with the City Manager’s administration of Burien’s day-to-day operations and execution of City Council policies and objectives. (Handbook 2.D)
- Failing to avoid the appearance of speaking on behalf of the Planning Commission or the City of Burien without the Council’s authorization. (Handbook, p. 5)
- Harming Burien’s reputation (Mr. Schaefer’s actions caused an increase in negative media coverage and other communications that inaccurately alleged that Burien was violating constitutional law and conducting unlawful sweeps).
- After speaking with the media, Mr. Schaefer failed to immediately notify the City Manager or Communications Manager about something that could impact or reflect negatively on Burien, its officials, staff, or its business. (Handbook, p. 10)
- Contributing to, creating, or exacerbating the situation that harms Burien’s relationships with its partners, including King County and the King County Sheriff’s Office.
- Taking actions that undermine or attempt to undermine or thwart the council’s action, authority, decision(s), deliberation, discretion, or options concerning the unhoused. (See Burien Rules of Order 6.20)
- Engaged in activity that the Council would not permit to be unilaterally performed by staff or the public.
