City Attorney Craig Knutson will become Burien’s interim city manager on July 25. The City Council selected Knutson on July 1.

City Manager Mike Martin’s last day on the job will be July 24. He has resigned to become the city administrator in Lynden. Lynden is a city of 12,000 residents, located five miles south of the Canadian border and 15 miles north of Bellingham.

Mayor Brian Bennett thanked Martin for his service to Burien and noted city managers often “bear the brunt of the sword of public opinion.” The council has been split 4-3 and with three of Martin’s supporters up for re-election his employment future in Burien was uncertain.

Knutson will also receive a 10 percent raise. Councilmember Jack Block Jr. suggested Knutson receive the same pay as the current city manager but Human Resources director Angie Chaufty reported Knutson currently makes more than Martin.

Knutson said he will bring in outside help to handle some of his city attorney duties.

Lawmakers also decided to quickly put out request for proposals from recruitment search firms.

Councilmember Joan McGilton said the city is on the brink of making major decisions on topics such as the Town Square and Northeast Redevelopment Area. She said it is important to start the process immediately to hire a new competent city manager.

Councilmember Rose Clark noted it has taken 8 months to a year to find previous Burien city managers.

Councilmember Gerald Robison said the city should begin the search now while leaving the decision to the new council that will take office in January.

However, Councilmember Block said that before Martin was hired, Burien had an interim city manager for a year.
“It is fully appropriate to take our time,” Block declared. “The next council should weigh in on it.”

Martin and Mayor Bennett rejected a suggestion that Chaufty conduct the search. They said it would be too much of a burden on her current duties.