The City of Burien announced Friday (Feb. 12) that it has hired a Parking Compliance Officer to monitor two-hour parking zones and disabled parking spaces in and around the downtown Burien core.

The City says that the new Officer will begin by issuing warnings as part of an outreach program to encourage compliance within the regulated Parking areas. Other parking complaints may be handled by the officer on a case-by-case basis.

“Parking compliance is really about helping customers get to businesses in areas with lots of retail, like in our downtown,” said Burien Community Development Director Chip Davis. “We’re seeing the demand for on-street parking increase as more and more businesses open up.”

Residents, employees, and business owners are likely to see the new officer as he begins work next week, the City said. He is identifiable by uniform and comes to the City from King County where he serves as a reserve officer.

The need for time-limited Parking Zones came to the City through a 2007 parking study. As a result of the study, the two-hour parking zones were established and have been enforced at various times since their inception.