City Council members will see all the proposals Aug. 19 from search firms bidding to find Burien’s next city manager.
The lawmakers will also hear staff recommendations on who they should pick.
Mike Martin left the city manager position at the end of July to become Lynden’s city administrator. Lynden is a small town located near Bellingham. City Attorney Craig Knutson is filling in as interim city manager.
Even if current council members hire an executive search firm, it will be up to the new council that will be sworn in in January to select the new city manager.
Councilmember Rose Clark, who has helped select two city managers, said it might be in the spring, four or five months after the search firm is picked, before a new manager is hired.
Another veteran council member, Jack Block Jr., noted it took over a year before Martin was selected. Block said there is no rush because Knutson is a capable interim manager.
Councilmember Joan McGilton said current lawmakers “have a wealth of experience on who would be appropriate for Burien.” She added new council members wouldn’t have that knowledge.