Olympia Activist Files Lawsuit Against City of Burien and City Council

On April 26, 2024, an Olympia activist filed a complaint against the City of Burien and four council members, alleging a violation of the Open Public Meetings Act. The City of Burien received notification of the lawsuit this week.

Arthur West of Olympia (not a local resident) is known for filing complaints of open meeting law violations and records requests at public agencies around the state. Many of the complaints turn out to be frivolous lawsuits and are dismissed by the courts, but occasionally, his efforts pay off. 

In 2015, West received large payouts from Washington’s Liquor Control Board ($192,000), plus another for $187,000 from the Port of Olympia. 

Regarding the 2015 settlement from the control board, West was barred from commenting on the case, however, according to an article posted on the Spokesman-Review, West told the Associated Press: “I can say there is an excellent view from the front porch of the house I am closing on this week.” That view includes the Port of Olympia, he added.

West’s latest lawsuit is against the City of Burien, and it alleges the following:

‍“Burien City Council members Kevin Schilling, Alex Andrade, Linda Akey, and Stephanie Moras… knowingly conducted an unlawful meeting and deliberated and took ‘action’ and ‘final action’ outside the context of a properly scheduled and noticed open public meeting or executive session on April 25, 2024.” 

At the press conference, Mayor Kevin Schilling made a statement then allowed business owners to share the difficulties that they have had with the uncontrolled homeless encampments on the streets of Burien.  Four council members were present, but there was no further conversation, discussion, “actions” or “final action” taken between them. 

Notably, West filed the lawsuit within 24 hours of the April 25th press conference, but it took over 100 days for the plaintiff to give the City of Burien notice that they were defendants in the legal challenge.

We reached out to the City of Burien and Mayor Kevin Schilling. They did not make any comment, due to ongoing litigation.

Although Arthur West may not have any personal issue with Burien, local activist and former Burien Planning Commission Chair, Charles Schaefer has his own viewpoint about the lawsuit. Schaefer made a comment on his Facebook page today, stating that he plans to file an “intervention on” this new lawsuit.

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