>> GOOD AFTERNOON. TODAY IS
FEBRUARY 9th, 2026. THE COUNCIL
BRIEFING WITH MEETING WILL COME
TO ORDER. THE TIME IS 20 2:00
P.M. WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL
THE ROLL.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ?
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE? HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> I'M HERE. COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS AND COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ
ARE EXCUSED FOR TODAY.
COLLEAGUES, IF THERE'S NO
OBJECTIONS TO THE MINUTES OF
FEBRUARY 2nd , 2026, WILL BE
ADOPTED. HEARING NONE, THE
MINUTES ARE ADOPTED. HERE ARE
THE PRESIDENT'S REPORT REALLY
QUICK. ON TO THE PRESIDENT'S
REPORT, WE HAVE AN OIR VIRTUAL
PRESENTATION TODAY. SO
COLLEAGUES FOR THE OIR
PRESENTATION IS EVERY OTHER
WEEK, SO WE DID NOT HAVE ONE
LAST WEEK. WE'LL HAVE ONE THIS
WEEK AND OUR NEXT ONE WILL BE
FEBRUARY 23rd. WE ALSO HAVE ONE
PROCLAMATION FOR SIGNATURES
TODAY AND THEN WE HAVE ONE
EXECUTIVE SESSION SCHEDULED. ON
TOMORROW'S COUNCIL AGENDA WE
HAVE THREE ITEMS ON THE
INTRODUCTION AND CALENDAR. WE
HAVE CB1211, AN ORDINANCE
AUTHORIZING THE GENERAL MANAGER
OF CEO SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES
TO ENTER INTO AN INTERLOCAL
AGREEMENT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE
REGIONAL WATER SUPPLY FORUM. WE
ALSO HAVE AN ORDINANCE RELATING
TO THE CEDAR RIVER MUNICIPAL
WATERSHED. THAT IS GOING TO COME
TO THE GOVERNANCE AND UTILITIES
COMMITTEE AND THEN WE ALSO ON
TOMORROW'S CITY COUNCIL AGENDA
HAVE TWO ITEMS FOR THE CONSENT
CALENDAR, MINUTES FROM FEBRUARY
3rd , AND WE ALSO HAVE THREE
ITEMS UP FOR A VOTE, COUNCIL
BILL 121153 WHICH IS OFFICE OF
CITY FINANCE FOR CITY SOCIAL
HOUSING DEVELOPER. WE ALSO HAVE
AN SDCI SEPA THRESHOLDS UPDATE
AS WELL FOLLOWING AN SDCI
TRANSPORTATION AMENDMENT FOR
SEBA. SO EPA. SO WE HAVE A
COUPLE BILLS COMING UP TO
COUNCIL COMMITTEES FOR A FULL
VOTE. I WOULD BE REMISED IF I
DIDN'T SAY GO HAWKS. YOU WON
THE SUPER BOWL. WE'RE SO
GRATEFUL. I KNOW DURING OUR BLUE
SKY WE'LL BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT
THAT, BUT I JUST WANTED TO SAY
THAT BECAUSE I WON'T SAY THAT
DURING MY COUNCIL BRIEFING. SO I
WANTED TO SAY IT TODAY, OKAY, TO
BE LIKE GO HAWKS. WE'RE SUPER
EXCITED AND, COLLEAGUES, I WILL
EXPLAIN TO YOU ON WEDNESDAY WE
HAVE SENT OUT AN EMAIL ABOUT
THERE IS A PARADE THAT WILL BE
HERE AT 10:00 A.M. ON WEDNESDAY
AND WE KNOW THAT TRAFFIC IS
GOING TO BE A LOT COMING
DOWNTOWN. SO WE HAVE TALKED
ABOUT A VIRTUAL OPTION. I KNOW
THAT THE LIBRARY'S EDUCATION
NEIGHBORHOOD COMMITTEE IS GOING
TO BE RESCHEDULED. ALSO THE
HOUSING AND CIVIL RIGHTS AND
ARTS COMMITTEE IS GOING TO BE
VIRTUAL AS WELL TO TRY TO EASE
UP SOME OF THAT CONGESTION AND
SO FORTH. SO JUST SO YOU ALL
KNOW AND PLANNING FOR STAFF,
IT'S GOING TO BE A VERY BUSY
DOWNTOWN ON FOURTH AVENUE AND SO
WE'LL BE ADJUSTING HERE AT CITY
HALL. BUSINESS STILL RUNS. WE
STILL HAVE TO GET OUR COMMITTEES
IN, BUT WE'RE NAVIGATING THAT
AS WELL. NOW WE WILL GO TO THE
STATE LEGISLATIVE SESSION UPDATE
AND WE HAVE DIRECTOR HASHEMI AND
ANNA AND SAMIR. I BELIEVE YOU
ALL ARE ONLINE. THANK YOU ALL
FOR JOINING US. WE REALLY
APPRECIATE YOU ALL MAKING THIS
HAPPEN. WE KNOW YOU ALL ARE BUSY
IN OLYMPIA DOING THE LORD'S
WORK, SO WE APPRECIATE YOU
ALWAYS AND I WILL PASS IT OFF TO
YOU ALL.
>> WONDERFUL, THANK YOU. GOOD
AFTERNOON, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
HOLLINGSWORTH AND
COUNCILMEMBERS. I'M MINA
HASHEMI, DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE
OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS
JOINED BY MY COLLEAGUES FROM OUR
STATE RELATIONS TEAM ANNA
JOHNSON AND SAMIR JUNEJO WHO
YOU'LL HEAR FROM MOMENTARILY.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING US. WE'RE
IN WEEK FIVE OF THE STATE
LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND JUST 31
DAYS REMAIN. THE LEGISLATURE HAS
NOW PASSED THE FIRST MAJOR
CUTOFF OF THE SESSION, THE
DEADLINE BY WHICH BILLS MUST BE
VOTED OUT OF THE POLICY
COMMITTEES IN THEIR HOUSE OF
ORIGIN. LEGISLATION THAT FAILED
TO ADVANCE IS GENERALLY
CONSIDERED STALLED WHILE BILLS
THAT CLEARED CUTOFF REMAIN ALIVE
AND ELIGIBLE TO CONTINUE MOVING
THROUGH THE PROCESS. POLICIES
THAT CARRY A BUDGET IMPACT MUST
ALSO CLEAR FISCAL COMMITTEES BY
TODAY, FEBRUARY 9th , TO REMAIN
VIABLE. THE TIMELINE IS
ESPECIALLY COMPRESSED IN SHORT
SESSIONS AND AFTER TODAY'S
DEADLINE LEGISLATORS WILL HAVE
JUST OVER A WEEK UNTIL FLOOR
CUTOFF WHEN THEY BEGIN THE
PROCESS AGAIN WITH POLICIES FROM
THE OFFICE AT HOUSE. WHEN WE
LAST BRIEFED COUNCIL, THERE WERE
REQUESTS TO CLEARLY IDENTIFY
LEGISLATION CORRESPONDING TO THE
CITY'S OFFICIAL LEGISLATIVE
AGENDA AS PASSED BY COUNCIL IN
DECEMBER. SO ON SLIDES 3 THROUGH
7 WE HAVE LISTED CORRESPONDING
LEGISLATION, BUT FOR THE SAKE OF
TIME OUR LEGISLATION WILL COVER
WEEKS THREE AND FOUR AND OTHER
IMPORTANT LEGISLATION THAT THE
CITY IS TRACKING. WITH THAT I'LL
TURN IT OVER TO MY COLLEAGUES TO
GET INTO THE DETAILS. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBERS.
>> GOOD MORNING OR GOOD
AFTERNOON. SO WE'RE GOING TO
START WITH THE UPDATE ON THE
SEATTLE PRIORITIES LIKE MINA
MENTIONED. WE PREPARED SLIDES
FOR YOU TO SEE ALL OF THEM, BUT
WE'RE ONLY GOING TO SHARE OUT
SOME OF THE UPDATES ON BILLS
MAYBE WE HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE
TO BRIEF YOU ON OR ONES THAT HAD
MAJOR ACTIONS SINCE OUR LAST
COUNCIL BRIEFING. SO HERE ON
THIS SLIDE I WANT TO CALL YOUR
ATTENTION TO HOUSE BILL 1128.
THIS IS A BILL THAT WE ACTUALLY
SUPPORTED LAST YEAR AND IT'S UP
FOR RECONSIDERATION AGAIN THIS
SESSION. THIS BILL DEALS WITH
CREATING A CHILD CARE WORKFORCE
STANDARDS BOARD AND THIS TIES
INTO OUR CITY'S PRIORITY AROUND
CHILD CARE ACCESS,
AFFORDABILITY, AND WORKFORCE.
THIS BILL IS SCHEDULED IN THE
FISCAL COMMITTEE AND IS EXPECTED
TO BE VOTED OUT TODAY AND THEN
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. THE NEXT
BILL -- ACTUALLY, COULD YOU GO
BACK ONE MORE. THE NEXT BILL IS
HOUSE BILL 1678. THIS IS DEALING
WITH SOCIAL HOUSING PDAs. WE
KNOW WE'VE BEEN TALKING TO MANY
OF YOUR OFFICES ABOUT THIS BILL.
THIS BILL IS ON THE HOUSE FLOOR
CALENDAR OUT OF RULES AND IT'S
READY FOR A VOTE AT ANY TIME THE
HOUSE HAS FLOOR ACTION. NOW NEXT
SLIDE. THE NEXT BILL WE WANT TO
FLAG FOR YOU IS HOUSE BILL 2304.
THIS BILL IS DEALING WITH
CONDOMINIUMS AND SO THIS BILL
INCREASES THE SUPPLY OF
CONDOMINIUMS BY EXPANDING THE
TYPES OF CONDO BUILDINGS THAT
MAY BE SUBJECT TO AN EXPRESS
WARRANTY OF QUALITY AND EXPRESS
WARRANTY OF INSURANCE COVERAGE.
THIS BILL IS ALSO READY TO GO ON
THE FLOOR AT ANY POINT. NEXT
SLIDE. ON THIS LIST I WANT TO
HIGHLIGHT HOUSE BILL 2495. THIS
BILL IS RELATED TO SEATTLE'S
ABILITY TO ADDRESS VEHICLES THAT
ARE OBSTRUCTING OUR STREETCAR.
THIS BILL WAS ACTUALLY MOVED OUT
OF THE HOUSE TRANSPORTATION
COMMITTEE WITH UNANIMOUS
SUPPORT. THEN THE LAST BILL IN
THIS LIST ON THIS SLIDE IS 5098.
THIS BILL IS A PRIORITY ALSO
FROM LAST SESSION THAT IS ALSO
ON OUR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA THIS
YEAR AND THIS BILL IS DEALING
WITH WEAPONS IN CERTAIN
LOCATIONS. SO IT'S PROHIBITING
POSSESSION OR OPEN CARRY OF
WEAPONS ON STATE OR LOCAL PUBLIC
BUILDINGS, PARKS, PLAYGROUND
FACILITIES WHERE CHILDREN ARE
LIKELY TO BE PRESENT, COUNTY
FAIRS AND COUNTY FAIR
FACILITIES. THIS BILL PASSED THE
SENATE 29-20 AND IS IN THE
OFFICE OF CHAMBER READY FOR THE
HOUSE POLICY.
>> SOME SENATE BILLS, SENATE
BILL 5500 RELATING TO CHILD CARE
REIMBURSEMENT RATES FOR THE
WORKING CONNECTIONS CHILD CARE
PROGRAM. THIS BILL ACTUALLY
PASSED THE SENATE AND IS NOW IN
THE HOUSE OF PREPARATIONS
COMMITTEE. AND THEN I'LL ALSO
HIGHLIGHT SENATE BILL 5880
RELATED TO TOXICOLOGY TESTING BY
CERTIFIED OR CREDITED
LABORATORIES. IT'S IN SENATE
WAYS AND MEANS SCHEDULED TO BE
VOTED OUT OF COMMITTEE TODAY. I
ALSO HIGHLIGHT SIMILAR STATUS
SENATE BILL 6037 RELATED TO FIRE
PROTECTION DISTRICTS ALSO IN THE
SENATE WAYS AND MEANS AND
SCHEDULED TO BE VOTED OUT OF
COMMITTEE TODAY AS WELL AND THE
LAST ONE, SENATE BILL 6148 WHICH
RELATES TO SOUND TRANSIT MAXIMUM
TERM FOR BONDS. THAT BILL WAS
VOTED OUT OF THE SENATE
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE AND IS
NOW READY TO BE VOTED ON ON THE
FULL SENATE FLOOR. I'LL NOW
MOVE ON TO WEEK THREE AND FOUR,
RECAP SOME OTHER BILLS THAT
WE'RE ALSO TRACKING AND I'LL
FIRST START WITH THE ONE THAT
GOT QUITE A BIT OF ATTENTION,
SENATE BILL 6347 ALSO KNOWN AS
THE MILLIONAIRES INCOME TAX. A
QUICK SUMMARY, THERE'S CERTAINLY
A LOT MORE DETAIL AND I'M HAPPY
TO ANSWER QUESTIONS LATER OVER
EMAIL, BUT ESSENTIALLY THE BILL
IS A 9.9% TAX ON INCOME OVER $1
MILLION AND THE WAY -- THE USE
OF THE REVENUE, 5% OF THE
REVENUES WILL GO TO COUNTY
PUBLIC DEFENSE. THERE'S A SMALL
BUSINESS EMAIL EXEMPTION FOR
BUSINESSES THAT HAVE GROSS
RECEIPTS UNDER $250,000 AND
SALES TAX EXEMPTION FOR PERSONAL
HYGIENE PRODUCTS. THERE WAS A
0.5% B AND O SURCHARGE ON
COMPANIES THAT MADE OVER $250
MILLION THAT THE LEGISLATURE
PASSED LAST YEAR MEANT TO EXPIRE
IN 2029 AND THIS BILL WOULD
EXPIRE THAT IN 2028. IT ALSO
REMOVES THE AGE LIMIT ON WORKING
FAMILIES' TAX CREDIT ALLOWING
FOLKS WHO ARE ANYONE OVER 18
INSTEAD OF 25 TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR
THE WORKING FAMILIES TAX CREDIT.
A CAVEAT IS CERTAINLY THIS BILL
IS STILL MOVING ALONG AND IT'S
ACTUALLY SCHEDULED TO VOTE OUT
OF THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE
TODAY AND THERE WILL ALMOST
CERTAINLY BE CHANGES. A LOT OF
THIS IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
>> A COUPLE BILLS IN THE CLIMATE
AND ENVIRONMENT SECTION THAT WE
HAVEN'T HAD A TON OF DISCUSSION
ON YET IS HOUSE BILL 2515 AND
THE SENATE COMPANION 6171. THIS
BILL IS DEALING WITH LARGE
ENERGY USE FACILITIES OR ALSO
KNOWN AS DATA CENTERS. THIS BILL
ESSENTIALLY CREATES AND REQUIRES
A TARIFF OR POLICY FOR POWER
UTILITIES FOR DATA CENTERS THAT
ARE 25 MEGAWATTS AND ABOVE AND
ALSO REQUIRES RENEWABLE ENERGY
GENERATION REQUIREMENTS FOR
THESE NEW FACILITIES. SENATE
BILL 5466 DEALS WITH CREATING A
WASHINGTON STATE ELECTRIC
TRANSMISSION AUTHORITY WHOSE
DUTIES WILL BE TO SUPPORT THE
EXPANSION AND UPGRADE OF
ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION. IT ALSO
CREATES A SEPA EXEMPTION IN THIS
BILL AND ESTABLISHES A TRIBAL
CLEAN ENERGY PARTNERSHIP WORK
GROUP.
>> GENERAL GOVERNMENT BILLS,
HOUSE BILL 2637 WOULD EXPAND THE
PERSONAL INFORMATION THAT IS
EXEMPT UNDER THE PRA TO ALSO
INCLUDE A PERSON'S AGE, DATE OF
BIRTH, PLACE OF BIRTH, LANGUAGE
PREFERENCE, GEOLOCATION OR GPS
DATA, RESIDENTIAL ADDRESSES,
GOVERNMENT-ISSUED IDENTIFIERS
AND UTILITY ACCOUNT DATA. HOUSE
BILL 1408 WHICH ESTABLISHES A
DEDICATED FUNDING SOURCE FOR
COMMUNITY PRESERVATION AND
DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITIES BY
DIVERTING A STATE PORTION OF
SALES TAX AT THE TWO SEATTLE
STADIUMS THAT GO DIRECTLY TO THE
CPDAs. THERE'S TWO OF THEM IN
THE STATE AND BOTH ARE IN THE
CITY OF SEATTLE. ONE BILL, HOUSE
BILL 2720, WHICH IMPOSES A
COVERED LIFE ASSESSMENT ON
HEALTH INSURANCE PLANS AND THE
REVENUE FOR THAT WOULD GO
TOWARDS BEHAVIOR HEALTH
EMERGENCY SERVICES AND
SPECIFICALLY CRISIS SERVICES.
THE CITY SIGNED. A COUPLE
HOUSING HOMELESSNESS BILLS,
SENATE BILL 6026 CONCERNING
RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT AND
COMMERCIAL AND MIXED-USE ZONES,
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT ON
PREVIOUSLY WEEKS. THE CITY HAD
CONCERNS WITH THE PROHIBITION ON
CITIES REQUIRING GROUND FLOOR
RETAIL AND THE BILL IS SCHEDULED
TO BE VOTED OUT OF THE WAYS AND
MEANS COMMITTEE TODAY. THE BILL
HAS CHANGED AND HAS ADDED
EXEMPTIONS FOR STATION AREAS,
BIAs, AND ALSO CREATED SOME
FLEXIBILITY FOR AREAS OUTSIDE OF
STATION AREAS AND THERE WILL
LIKELY BE A NEW VERSION AS IT
MOVES OUT OF COMMITTEE TODAY
THAT WE HOPE TO ANALYZE SOON.
HERE HOUSE BILL 2266 WHICH
ENCOURAGES PERMANENT SUPPORT OF
HOUSING, TRANSITIONAL HOUSING,
INDOOR EMERGENCY HOUSING AND
INDOOR EMERGENCY SHELTER ALSO
MOVED OUT OF COMMITTEE AND THE
CITY SIGNED IN PRO. ONE CONGRESS
BILL HOUSE BILL 2420 WHICH
RELATES TO THE SMALL WORKS
ROSTER. SO THESE ARE PUBLIC
WORKS PROJECT THAT ARE CURRENTLY
UNDER $350,000. THIS INCREASES
THE MAXIMUM VALUE OF PROJECTS
THAT CAN USE THE SMALL WORKS
ROSTER TO $650,000 AND THE CITY
SIGNED IN PRO.
>> MOVING ON TO A COUPLE PUBLIC
SAFETY AND CRIMINAL
JUSTICE-RELATED BILLS, SENATE
BILL 60 17 DOES A NUMBER OF
THINGS TO SUPPORT CRIME VICTIMS
AND WITNESSES OF CRIMES. IT ADDS
A PROTECTION IN THE COURT
PROCESS FOR SURVIVORS TO NOT BE
DIRECTLY QUESTIONED BY THE
DEFENDANT. HOUSE BILL 2389 IS
DEALING WITH THE JUVENILE
REHABILITATION POPULATION IN
WASHINGTON IN CRIMINAL OFFENSES
FOR YOUTHFUL OFFENDERS UNDER 18.
IT ALLOWS COMMUNITY-BASED
REHABILITATIVE OPTIONS AND
ESTABLISHES A REQUIREMENT FOR
THE COURT TO GRANT A SUSPENDED
DISPOSITION ALTERNATIVE IN
CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES AND THEN
ALSO REQUIRES THE COURT TO
CONDUCT A MIDPOINT REVIEW
HEARING DURING THE MIDRANGE OF
THE JUVENILE SENTENCE AT DCYF.
SENATE BILL 6296 DEALS WITH
INVOLUNTARY TREATMENT. IT DOES
FOUR THINGS. FIRST, IT AMENDS
THE LIST OF PEOPLE WHO CAN
PETITION FOR A PERSON'S INITIAL
INVOLUNTARY COMMITMENT. IT ALSO
EXPANDS NOTIFICATION
REQUIREMENTS FOR WHEN A FACILITY
RELEASES A PERSON WHO IS
COMMITTED AFTER A DISMISSAL OF A
FELONY CHARGE, CREATES A PROCESS
FOR REVIEWING COMPLIANCE WITH
SURRENDER OF FIREARMS AND
MODIFIES PROCESSES AND
REQUIREMENTS FOR LESS RESTRICTED
ALTERNATIVE TREATMENT OPTIONS
AND ASSISTED OUTPATIENT
TREATMENT. IN THE SOCIAL
PROGRAMS AND EDUCATION CATEGORY,
I'LL START WITH HOUSE BILL
2714. THIS BILL DIRECTS THE
CASELOAD FORECASTS THE
INDIVIDUALS EXPECTED TO RECEIVE
S.N.A.P. AND THE FOOD ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM. IN THE STATE OF
WASHINGTON THIS IS SOMETHING
TYPICALLY DONE FOR OTHER SOCIAL
PROGRAMS ADMINISTERED BY THE
STATE. HOUSE BILL 2523 MAKES
IMPROVEMENTS TO THE COMMUNITY
REINVESTMENT PROGRAM. IT FURTHER
STRENGTHENS ACCOUNTABILITY
WITHIN THE FUNDING IN THAT
PROGRAM AND ALLOWS FOR MORE
CLEAR DIRECTION FOR
ORGANIZATIONS THAT WANT TO APPLY
FOR AND BE IN CONTACT WITH
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE FOR THE
FUNDING AVAILABLE THROUGH THAT
PROGRAM.
>> A COUPLE TRANSPORTATION
BILLS, I'LL HIGHLIGHT SENATE
BILL 6309 WHICH PROVIDES FOR
ENHANCED MUNICIPAL PERMITTING
TOOLS FOR HIGH CAPACITY TRANSIT
PROJECT SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO
PERMITTING FOR SOUND TRANSIT
PROJECT AND THE CITY SIGNED IN
PRO ON THE LATEST VERSION AND
HOUSE BILL 1980 WHICH AUTHORIZES
A PILOT PROJECT THAT WOULD ALLOW
THE CITY TO HAVE A PROGRAM THAT
WOULD ALLOW PRIVATE EMPLOYER
SHUTTLES TO USE BAT LANES AND
THE CITY SIGNED IN PRO AS WELL.
AS MENTIONED EARLIER, TODAY IS
FISCAL COMMITTEE CUTOFF. SO A
NUMBER OF BILLS HAVE TO MAKE IT
OUT OF COMMITTEES TO STAY ALIVE
TODAY. THE HOUSE AND SENATE HAVE
UNTIL FEBRUARY 17th TO VOTE
BILLS OUT OF THEIR RESPECTIVE
CHAMBERS AND SEND THEM TO THE
OTHER CHAMBER. THE THAT'S THE
PRESENTATION FOR TODAY, HAPPY TO
ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR THE OVERVIEW AND
PRESENTATION, SUPER HELPFUL. WE
KNOW BILLS ARE MOVING FAST.
LEGISLATION IS MOVING FAST.
COLLEAGUES, PLEASE RAISE YOUR
HAND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS
REGARDING THE PRESENTATION,
WHERE WE ARE OR FOR THE TEAM AT
OIR. COUNCILMEMBER LIN.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE
PRESENTATION, QUICK QUESTION
ABOUT ANY BUDGET UPDATE. I KNOW
THERE'S A LOT OF PROGRESS BEING
MADE ON THE MILLIONAIRES TAX,
BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS THOSE
REVENUES WOULD NOT COME IN UNTIL
2029, POTENTIALLY DELAYED
FURTHER DEPENDING UPON
LITIGATION OR ANTICIPATED
LITIGATION. COULD YOU JUST TALK
ABOUT THE BUDGET OUTLOOK IN THE
FORESEEABLE YEARS?
>> THIS YEAR IS A SHORT SESSION
MEANING THEY'RE USING A
SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET TO MAKE
FIXES TO THE TWO-YEAR BUDGET
THEY PASSED LAST YEAR AND
THEY'RE LOOKING AT A $2.3
BILLION SHORTFALL FOR THIS
BIENNIUM THAT ENDS JULY 1st,
2027. SO YOU'RE RIGHT THAT THE
MILLIONAIRES INCOME TAX REVENUE
WILL NOT BE COMING IN IN TIME TO
HELP THE $2.3 BILLION SHORTFALL
THAT THEY'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW
AND SO THERE ARE A NUMBER OF
OTHER DECISIONS THE BUDGET
WRITERS WILL HAVE TO MAKE TO
ENSURE THEY CAN COVER THAT
SHORTFALL. TIMELINES FOR THE
BUDGETS RELEASE, MOST LIKELY
LOOKING AT THE END OF FEBRUARY
WHEN WE'LL FIRST SEE THE HOUSE
AND SENATE-PROPOSED BUDGETS.
THEY THEN PASS THOSE BUDGETS AND
NEGOTIATE A COMPROMISED BUDGET
HOPEFULLY BY MARCH 12th.
>> THANK YOU.
>> AWESOME, THANK YOU. IS THERE
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS REGARDING
THE PRESENTATION? SEEING NONE,
THANK YOU, DIRECTOR HASHEMI.
THANK YOU, ANNA AND SAMIR,
ALWAYS APPRECIATE YOUR HARD
WORK. WE KNOW WE'RE IN CONSTANT
COMMUNICATION. THIS IS FOR THE
GENERAL PUBLIC SO THEY KNOW WHAT
IS GOING ON AND WHAT'S MOVING
AS WELL JUST BECAUSE THERE ARE
HOW MANY BILLS HAD BEEN
PROPOSED? DO YOU ALL KNOW LIKE
AT THE BEGINNING? I PUT YOU ON
THE SPOT. I'M SORRY. YOU DON'T
HAVE TO ANSWER.
>> WE WILL FOLLOW UP WITH THAT
NUMBER, THOUGH, BECAUSE IT IS A
BIG ONE.
>> IT'S A BIG ONE, BUT FOR US
TO HAVE FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC
TO SHOW SOME OF THE REALLY
IMPORTANT ONES THAT SEATTLE IS
FOLLOWING AND TRACKING I THINK
IS IMPORTANT. COUNCILMEMBER
FOSTER.
>> THANK YOU. I'M NOT WEIGHING
IN TO TRY TO ANSWER THAT
QUESTION, COUNCIL PRESIDENT
HOLLINGSWORTH, BUT THANK YOU SO
MUCH TO THE TEAM AT OIR FOR THE
PRESENTATION. I APPRECIATE IT.
ONE QUESTION I HAVE JUST TO
FOLLOW UP ON COUNCILMEMBER
LIN'S QUESTION AROUND THE
BUDGET AND MAYBE IT'S JUST A
REQUEST FOR THE FUTURE ACTUALLY
IS THAT AS THAT BUDGET GETS
FURTHER DEVELOPED AT THE STATE
LEVEL, IF WE CAN GET UPDATED ON
THE WAYS THAT THOSE POTENTIAL
BUDGET CUTS ARE GOING TO IMPACT
US AT THE CITY LEVEL, I THINK
THAT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL.
THERE'S SOME THINGS I'VE SEEN
AROUND PREVIOUS VERSIONS OF THE
BUDGET THAT HAD SIGNIFICANT CUTS
PARTICULARLY TO CHILD CARE AND
EARLY LEARNING. I KNOW THERE IS
-- THE COLLEAGUES I SERVE IS THE
VICE-CHAIR BOARD OF HEALTH.
THERE'S PERHAPS A 30% COST TO
HEALTH SERVICES ACROSS THE
STATE, NOT JUST KING COUNTY. OUR
OFFICE HAS BEEN ATTEMPTING TO
TRACK THAT AND UNDERSTAND HOW
THOSE CUTS MIGHT IMPACT
RESIDENTS HERE LOCALLY. SO A
REQUEST FOR FUTURE INFORMATION
AS THOSE BUDGET DETAILS CONTINUE
TO GET HAMMERED OUT.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER. OKAY.
WELL, I THINK THAT'S THE END. I
DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANY
OTHER QUESTIONS, COLLEAGUES.
SEEING NONE, DIRECTOR HASHEMI,
ANNA AND SAMIR, THANK YOU ALL SO
MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> AWESOME. NOW WE HAVE THE
SIGNING OF LETTERS AND
PROCLAMATIONS. COUNCILMEMBER
FOSTER HAS A PROCLAMATION FOR
SIGNATURE TODAY PROCLAIMING
FEBRUARY 2026 TO BE BLACK
HISTORY MONTH. COUNCILMEMBER
FOSTER, PLEASE LEAD US IN THE
DISCUSSION OF THE PROCLAMATION.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCIL
PRESIDENT HOLLINGSWORTH. I AM
REALLY EXCITED TO GET TO OFFER
THIS PROCLAMATION TO YOU,
COLLEAGUES, FOR YOUR SIGNATURES.
IF YOU REMEMBER LAST WEEK WHEN
WE WERE AT THE TABLE, I SAID
HEY, IT'S COMING ON CP TIME.
HERE WE ARE, EXCITED TO BRING
THIS FORWARD. WE ARE CELEBRATING
NOT JUST 100 YEARS OF BLACK
HISTORY, BUT TEN YEARS HERE IN
SEATTLE OF BLACK LIVES MATTER IN
SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND
SOMETHING THAT WAS HAD ON MY
MIND A LOT WHILE WE WERE
DEVELOPING THE LANGUAGE FOR THIS
PROCLAMATION IS JUST HOW MUCH
BLACK HISTORY INFLUENCES, WHEN
WE REALLY LOOK AT IT, INFLUENCES
THE MOMENT WE'RE IN AS A
COUNTRY TODAY AND REALLY TRYING
TO BALANCE SOME OF THE DIFFICULT
TRUTHS THAT WE NEED TO FACE AS A
COUNTRY AROUND OUR HISTORY OF
ENSLAVING PEOPLE, AROUND THE
HISTORY OF ECONOMIC SEGREGATION,
AROUND INTENTIONALLY ATTEMPTING
TO DESTROY BLACK WEALTH AND
BLACK FAMILIES ALONG WITH THE
FACT THAT WE ARE A COMMUNITY
THAT IS FULL OF RESISTANCE, FULL
OF JOY, THAT IS PRESENT AND I
REALLY STRUCK TO WRITE A
RESOLUTION THAT BALANCES THOSE
TRUTHS. SO I WON'T READ THE
WHOLE THING OR WILL I? NO, I
WON'T, BUT I WILL SHARE A
COUPLE OF THE WHEREAS CLAUSES HA
I THINK SPEAK TO THE MOMENT THAT
WE'RE IN RIGHT NOW. SO WHEREAS,
BLACK HISTORY IS AMERICAN
HISTORY BOTH IN ITS TRIUMPHS AND
TRAUMAS AND THE STATE-SANCTIONED
AND STATE-SUPPORTED SYSTEMS
ESTABLISHED DURING SLAVERY AND
PERPETUATED THROUGH JIM CROW
LAWS, DISCRIMINATORY POLICING,
AND INEQUITABLE SOCIAL AND
ECONOMIC POLICIES DELIBERATELY
SOUGHT TO CONTROL, PUNISH, AND
DISMANTLE BLACK FAMILIES AND
COMMUNITIES, WHEREAS, THESE
HISTORICAL INJUSTICES DRAW A
DIRECT AND UNDENIABLE CONNECTION
TO PRESENT DAY SYSTEMS OF MASS
INCARCERATION, FAMILY
SEPARATION, AND STRUCTURAL
INEQUITY THAT CONTINUE TO
DISPROPORTIONATELY HARM BLACK
INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, AND
NEIGHBORHOODS AND WHEREAS,
DESPITE ENDURING SYSTEMIC RACISM
AND DISPLACEMENT, SEATTLE'S
BLACK COMMUNITIES CONTINUE TO
DEMONSTRATE STRENGTH AND VISION,
LEAD ONGOING EFFORTS TOWARDS
LIBERATION, SELF-DETERMINATION,
ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT, AND
RESILIENCE, COMMUNITY
PRESERVATION AND MORE AND
FIGHTING FOR MORE JUST AND
INCLUSIVE FUTURE FOR ALL
RESIDENTS AND THE LAST ONE I
WANT TO READ IS WHEREAS, THIS
YEAR ALSO MARKS THE TENTH
ANNIVERSARY OF THE BLACK LIVES
MATTER AT SCHOOL WEEK OF ACTION,
A NATIONWIDE MOVEMENT THAT BEGAN
IN SETTLE AND IS LED BY
EDUCATORS, STUDENTS, FAMILIES,
AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS AFFIRMING
THE HUMANITY OF BLACK STUDENTS
AND THAT UNDERSCORES THE VITAL
ROLE OF SCHOOLS AS SITES OF
TRUTH TELLING AND BELONGING.
THEN THERE'S SOME MORE
WHEREASES, BUT YOU'LL HAVE TO
READ THOSE ONLINE. I WANTED TO
BRING THOSE TO YOUR ATTENTION,
COLLEAGUES, BECAUSE WE ARE IN A
MOMENT WHERE PEOPLE ARE
ATTEMPTING TO ERASE OUR HISTORY
AND PART OF THE WAY THAT WE
ENSURE THAT THAT DOES NOT HAPPEN
IS THROUGH MOMENTS LIKE THIS AND
THROUGH OUR COMMITMENT TO
DOCUMENTING AND CELEBRATING AND
ALSO TO INVESTING IN BLACK
FUTURES. SO THANK YOU,
COLLEAGUES.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER, AND THANK
YOU FOR TAKING THAT ON AND DOING
THAT WORK AND THE INTENTIONALITY
BEHIND IT AS WELL. ARE THERE ANY
COMMENTS BEFORE I CALL ON
SIGNATURES TO THE DOCUMENT?
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> THANK YOU, MADAM COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. I, TOO, WANT TO JOIN
IN AND EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE TO
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP TAKING THIS ON AND
DRAFTING SUCH A THOUGHTFUL
PROCLAMATION TO HONOR THE
COMPLEXITIES, BUT ALSO THERE'S
A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT TO CELEBRATE
AND BE PROUD OF AS WELL, BUT
DOING ALL THAT IN ONE SINGULAR
DOCUMENT, THANK YOU, APPRECIATE
YOU AND HONOR TO BE ABLE TO
SUPPORT THIS TODAY.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE FOLLOWED BY
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT,
AND THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
FOSTER, FOR THIS PROCLAMATION.
ALL THE POINTS YOU RAISED ARE
VERY IMPORTANT TO HIGHLIGHT AND
IT REMINDED ME BECAUSE THIS
WEEKEND GETTING READY FOR THE
SUPER BOWL, BUT AT THE SAME TIME
WATCHING AMERICAN REVOLUTION BY
KEN BURNS AND TEAM ON PBS
SUPPORTED BY THE COOPERATION OF
PUBLIC BROADCASTING I SHOULD ADD
AND THE DETAIL IN TERMS OF THE
HISTORY OF BLACK AMERICA THAT
WAS IN THAT WAS DONE AT A LEVEL
-- AND I WAS WATCHING WITH MY
10-YEAR-OLD -- THAT WOULD NEVER
HAVE BEEN PUT OUT WHEN I WAS 10
YEARS OLD. AND I JUST WANTED TO
HIGHLIGHT THAT BECAUSE I THINK
IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO THE
POINT ABOUT HISTORY'S HISTORY
AND I KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING
TODAY WITH HISTORY AND
WHITEWASHING IT AND SO FORTH BY
THE ADMINISTRATION, BUT THIS
AMERICAN REVOLUTION DOCUMENTARY
IS UNBELIEVABLE IN TERMS OF
HIGHLIGHTING THOSE PIECES. I'M
NOT SURE IF MOST PEOPLE KNOW
THAT AND IT'S REALLY WORTH
WATCHING TO SEE THE HISTORY AND
THE FACTORS THAT WENT INTO THE
BIRTH OF OUR NATION FROM THE
BLACK COMMUNITY, SLAVE OR NOT
ENSLAVED, AND IT'S FASCINATING.
I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT,
COUNCIL PRESIDENT, BECAUSE I
THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT AND
A GREAT SHOW EQUAL TO KEN BURNS
CIVIL WAR DOCUMENTARY AS WELL.
SO THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE. COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT,
AND THANK YOU, TOO,
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER, FOR
BRINGING THIS. IT IS IMPORTANT
TO REMEMBER THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF
THE BLACK COMMUNITY, NOT JUST IN
FEBRUARY, BUT EVERY SINGLE DAY
THROUGHOUT HISTORY FROM THE
BEGINNING ON TO ETERNITY. SO IT
IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US,
ESPECIALLY, YOU KNOW, ALWAYS AS
COMMUNITY GETS ATTACKED, IT IS
IMPORTANT FOR US AS A BODY TO
REALLY RECOGNIZE BLACK COMMUNITY
IN OUR CITY AND ACROSS OUR
COUNTRY. SO THANK YOU. ON THIS
WE ARE ALL UNITED AND I REALLY
APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THIS
FORWARD.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA.
COLLEAGUES, IF THERE'S NO
FURTHER DISCUSSION,
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER, DO YOU
HAVE ANY CLOSING WORDS BEFORE WE
TAKE ROLL CALL?
>> THAT I WILL BE BRINGING FORTH
THE SIGNED PROCLAMATION AT FULL
COUNCIL TOMORROW AND I LOOK
FORWARD TO DOING SO. THANK YOU.
>> AWESOME. AND JUST SO YOU ALL
KNOW, WE KIND OF HAVE A NEW
PROCESS FOR THE PROCLAMATIONS
THAT WE'RE DOING. WE'RE
SIGNING ALL TOGETHER AS A
COUNCIL. WE WOULD LIKE TO
COLLECTIVELY ALL TAKE A PHOTO
TOGETHER AS ONE AS A GROUP SO WE
CAN POST THAT ON OUR SOCIAL
MEDIA FEEDS AND BE ABLE TO THE
PUBLIC WHOEVER IS BRINGING THE
PROCLAMATION AS WELL, YOU CAN
HAVE YOUR OWN SINGLE PHOTO AS
WELL. IF IT'S OKAY WITH YOU
ALL, SOME OF THESE MOMENTS I
THINK ARE GREAT TO CAPTURE ALL
OF US TOGETHER IF THAT'S OKAY.
ALL RIGHT, AWESOME. I SEE HEAD
NODS SAYING YES. WE CAN ALL
STAND NEXT TO EACH OTHER FOR A
PHOTO. CLERK, WILL YOU PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL FOR SIGNATURE FOR
THE PROCLAMATION FOR BLACK
HISTORY MONTH.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LIN?
>> YES.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RINCK?
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL PRESIDENT
HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> YES.
>> SEVEN SIGNATURES WILL BE
AFFIXED.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU SO MUCH
AND THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
FOSTER, AS WELL, AWESOME. IT'S
MY FAVORITE MONTH. I MIGHT BE A
LITTLE BIASED CLEARLY. OKAY. SO
NOW WE'RE GOING TO JUMP INTO
THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM. WE'LL
BEGIN THE DISCUSSION OF THE
PREVIEW OF CITY COUNCIL ACTIONS
AND REGIONAL COMMITTEES. SO WHAT
WE'LL DO, I KNOW WE LIKE TO GO
BY LAST NAME ROLL CALL. WE'RE
JUST GOING TO OUR LEFT.
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA, THEN YOU'LL
PING IT OVER TO COUNCILMEMBER
FOSTER. COUNCIL COUNCILMEMBER
RIVERA, NOT TO PUT YOU ON THE
SPOT, BUT YOU ARE FIRST.
>> THANK YOU. CHALLENGE
ACCEPTED. THIS WEEK I HAD MY
MONTHLY MEETING WITH NORTH
PRECINCT CAPTAIN DAVISON AND WE
TALKED ABOUT WHAT'S BEEN
HAPPENING IN THE DISTRICT
INCLUDING UNFORTUNATE STREET
RACING PICKING UP AGAIN AT
MAGNUSON PARK AND ALSO A RASH OF
BREAK-INS IN THE BUSINESSES IN
WALLINGFORD. SPD IS WORKING ON
BOTH AS WE RESPOND TO
CONSTITUENTS IN DISTRICT ON BOTH
THESE ISSUES. IN TOMORROW'S
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE I'M
BRINGING MY BILL TO PROHIBIT
CITY EMPLOYEES FROM COOPERATING
WITH FEDERAL IMMIGRATION
ENFORCEMENT OR SHARING ANY
NONPUBLICLY AVAILABLE PERSONAL
INFORMATION FOR THE USE OF
ENFORCEMENT OF CIVIL IMMIGRATION
LAWS ABSENT THE ACTUAL PERSON
WHO IS REQUESTING THEIR OWN
INFORMATION OR A WARRANT. WE
NEED TO PROVIDE CLARITY,
COLLEAGUES, BY AMENDING OUR
SEATTLE MUNICIPAL CODE TO ALIGN
WITH BOTH STATE AND LOCAL LAWS
AND POLICIES. THERE SHOULD BE NO
CONFUSION OF THE LAW OR THE
POLICIES THAT WE HAVE PASSED AS
A STATE AND CITY IN SUPPORT OF
ALL, NOT JUST SOME OF OUR
RESIDENTS IN OUR CITY. I KNOW WE
ALL STAND IN SUPPORT OF OUR
IMMIGRANT RESIDENTS AND THIS IS
IMPORTANT TO DO SO BY WAY OF
THIS LEGISLATION. SO I
APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT OF THIS
LEGISLATION AND OUR MUTUAL
SUPPORT OF OUR IMMIGRANT
RESIDENTS IN THE CITY AND OF ALL
OUR RESIDENTS. AND SPEAKING OF
STANDING IN SUPPORT OF OUR
IMMIGRANT RESIDENTS, I HAVE TO
ADMIT THAT WHILE MOST OF YOU
WERE SHOWING UP FOR THE SEAHAWKS
GAME YESTERDAY AND GETTING BAD
BUNNY, I WAS SHOWING UP FOR BAD
BUNNY AND GETTING A SEAHAWKS
GAME. AS A FELLOW PUERTO RICAN,
IT WAS REALLY POIGNANT TO SEE
THOSE AMAZING SETS DEPICTING
SUGAR CANES AND VILLAGES IN
PUERTO RICO, NEIGHBORHOODS IN
NEW YORK WITH MANY PUERTO RICAN
AND LATINO RESIDENTS, SUCH AS
THE ONE WHERE I GREW UP, AND THE
AMAZING MUSIC AND CULTURE. THAT
WAS REALLY SPECIAL FOR ME TO SEE
AND, OF COURSE, THE HAWKS WON,
WHICH IS AMAZING. IT WAS A
TWO-FER AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD
TO SEEING THE PARADE ON
WEDNESDAY AND THEN AS COUNCIL
PRESIDENT MENTIONED EARLIER,
YOUR OFFICES HAVE ALL RECEIVED A
NOTICE OF THIS, BUT BECAUSE OF
THE PARADE WE'LL BE
RESCHEDULING THE LIBRARY'S
EDUCATION AND NEIGHBORHOODS
COMMITTEE MEETING FROM THIS
WEDNESDAY, THE 11th, TO
THURSDAY, THE 19th, AT 2:00 P.M.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR FLEXIBILITY
ON THAT. NEXT WEEK I'M GOING TO
BE ATTENDING RESIDENT MEETING AT
MERCY HOUSING AND MAGNUSON PARK
TO LISTEN TO RESIDENTS THERE. I
BELIEVE MAGNUSON IS THE ONLY
PARK IN THE CITY WITH AFFORDABLE
HOUSING LOCATED IN THE PARK. I
HAVE HEARD FROM RESIDENTS IN THE
PAST AND WANT TO CONTINUE
ENGAGEMENT AND LOOK FORWARD TO
HEARING FROM THEM NEXT WEEK.
UNLESS YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS
I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER, I'LL
TURN IT OVER TO MY COLLEAGUE,
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
>> COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA,
COLLEAGUES, ON THE STEPS
COMMITTEE FRONT WE HELD OUR
SECOND STEPS COMMITTEE LAST
THURSDAY WITH SDOT PRESENTING ON
THEIR 2026 PROPOSED
TRANSPORTATION LEVY DELIVERY
PLAN, EXCITED TO SHARE THERE ARE
MORE THAN 430 PLANNED
INVESTMENTS PROJECTS FOR THE
SECOND FULL YEAR OF
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 2024
VOTER-APPROVED LEVY. THE
COMMITTEE ALSO RECEIVED AN
IMPORTANT UPDATE FROM SDOT'S
AMERICAN WITH DISABILITIES ACT
PROGRAM, INCLUDING MORE BROADLY
ABOUT ACCESSIBILITY AND HOW THE
DEPARTMENT APPROACHES THAT
IMPORTANT VITAL WORK AND THE
PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY INCLUDING
THROUGH COMPLIANCE WITH THE
REYNOLDSONS' CONSENT DECREE.
LOOKING AHEAD THERE ARE MORE
EXCITING AND IMPACTFUL AGENDA
ITEMS PLANNED, SO STAY TUNED. ON
TO SOME SPECIFIC REGIONAL
COMMITTEES, I'LL JUST HIGHLIGHT
THE LEVY OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, MY
INVOLVEMENT THERE. LAST WEEK THE
LEVY OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE MET ON
TUESDAY. AMONG OTHER THINGS, IT
ELECTED ITS LEADERSHIP TEAM, SO
WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE TYLER
VASQUEZ AND CHASE KITCHENS FOR
BEING ELECTED AS CO-CHAIRS OF
THE LEVY OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE,
ALSO LIKE TO CONGRATULATE
TIMOTHY CHANG, NEW FINANCE
SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIR, HARRISON
JEROME, THE GET-INVOLVED MEMBER
POSITION LEADER AND THEN JACK
WISNER ON A MEMBER AT-LARGE
POSITION. SO EXCITING STUFF
THERE. THE COMMITTEE ALSO WORKED
TO FINALIZE ITS BYLAWS AMONGST
OTHER IMPORTANT FOUNDATIONAL
GOVERNANCE MATTERS AND REALLY
EXCITED FOR WHAT LIES AHEAD WITH
THAT COMMITTEE. I'LL SPEAK FOR
MY TWO CENTS. OBVIOUSLY IT WAS A
REDEMPTION DAY. THIS IS THE
SEATTLE TIMES PRINTOUT OF TODAY.
REDEMPTION, MAYBE THE STRANGE
WILL PUBLISH A COMMEMORATIVE
STRANGER EDITION OF CELEBRATING
WHAT HAPPENED. I KNOW THEY
PERIODICALLY HAVE STARTED TO
PUBLISH PRINT AGAIN, BUT IN ANY
EVENT, WE ALL KNOW THE SEATTLE
SEAHAWKS WON AND REALLY EXCITED
FOR THAT AS A FAN OF SEATTLE
SPORTS, EXCITED FOR THAT AS THE
DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE
STADIUM DISTRICT THAT REPRESENTS
THE SEATTLE SEAHAWKS, EXCITED
FOR THAT AS THE CHAIR OF OUR
COUNCIL COMMITTEE THAT OVERSEES
MAJOR CIVIC SPORTING EVENTS,
INCLUDING THE SEATTLE CENTER AND
SO BIG NEWS FOR OUR CITY, A LOT
OF EXCITING THINGS GOING ON. I
WAS HONORED LAST WEEK TO JOIN
THE MAYOR AND RAISE THE 12s FLAG
FROM ATOP OF OUR ICONIC SPACE
NEEDLE AND I KNOW THE MAYOR'S
OFFICE HAS BEEN HARD AT WORK
OVER THE LAST COUPLE WEEKS
BEHIND THE SCENES PLANNING FOR
DOING SOME WHAT WAS AT THE TIME
CONTINGENCY PLANNING AND THAT IS
PREPARING FOR A POSSIBLE SUPER
BOWL VICTORY PARADE AND ME AND
MY OFFICE HAVE BEEN ENGAGED WITH
THEM ON THIS. NOW IT'S
OFFICIAL, EXCITED TO SHARE THAT
THAT SUPER BOWL VICTORY PARADE,
AS WE ALL KNOW, IS GOING TO BE
ON WEDNESDAY AND WE LOOK FORWARD
TO WELCOMING VISITORS,
SPECTATORS, FANS, FAMILIES, KIDS
FROM ALL OVER SEATTLE AND
OUTSIDE OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE
FOR A SAFE, WELCOMING EVENT AND
I REALLY DO WANT TO SAY HAT TIP
AND EXTEND MY -- SAY KUDOS TO
THE MAYOR AND HER TEAM FOR HER
LEADERSHIP AND PLANNING EVENTS
LIKE THIS, ESPECIALLY THE DEPUTY
MAYOR, CHRISTINA PHAM AND NOW WE
GET TO IMPLEMENT FROM A CITY
PERSPECTIVE, SHOUT OUT TO THE
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS, OF COURSE,
OTHER CITY PARTNERS, THE SPORTS
COMMISSION, A LOT OF PEOPLE
INVOLVED. THIS IS A COMPLEX
MULTIDEPARTMENT INTERGOVERNMENTA
L -- INTERPARTNER LEVEL
ENGAGEMENT, SO A LOT OF WORK
WENT INTO THIS. NOW WE GET TO GO
EXECUTE AND HAVE A SAFE, FUN
EVENT FOR ALL. CONGRATULATIONS
TO THE SEAHAWKS! AGAIN, I'M
REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE M.O.B.
MANTRA OR MINDSET OF THE TEAM.
WE ALL KNOW WHAT M.O.B. MEANS.
SEARCH IT UP AND THAT'S AN
APPROACH THAT I'M LOOKING TO
LEARN FROM AND FIGURE OUT HOW WE
CAN IMPLEMENT FROM A CITY
PERSPECTIVE, SUPER, SUPER
IMPORTANT, M.O.B., AND ALSO LAST
NIGHT -- SO I WAS ON THE PHONE
THIS MORNING CALLING SOME
LEADERS IN MY DISTRICT,
INCLUDING ESPECIALLY IMPACTED
STAKEHOLDERS IN PIONEER SQUARE
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT
HAPPENED LAST NIGHT. WE ALL
PROBABLY SAW ON THE NEWS THE
THOUSANDS OF SPECTATORS SWARMING
THE STREETS CELEBRATING AND IT
WAS MOSTLY GOOD, NOT ALL GOOD
UNFORTUNATELY, AND IN PIONEER
SQUARE IN PARTICULAR BOTH THE
RESIDENTS AND THE BUSINESS
LEADERS THERE HAVE REPORTED THAT
THE ICONIC PIONEER SQUARE
PERGOLA WAS DAMAGED, SUFFERED
VANDALISM, BROKEN GLASS AMONGST
OTHER THINGS AND SO GOOD NEWS IS
AS OUR SEATTLE PARKS TEAM I'M
TOLD WAS ON SITE THIS MORNING
WITH SOME OF THE RESIDENTS
THERE, SOME OF THE BUSINESSES,
HAVE A GAME PLAN IN PLACE TO
MAKE APPROPRIATE REPAIRS AND
ALSO IMPORTANTLY, THE SEATTLE
FOUNDATION HAS ALSO SHOWED UP TO
FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN DO SOME
PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS TO
COVER THOSE IMPORTANT REPAIR
COSTS BECAUSE IN THE HISTORIC
PIONEER SQUARE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT
IS ONE OF THE MOST, IF NOT THE
MOST, ICONIC PERGOLAS, ONE OF
THE MOST, IF NOT THE MOST,
ICONIC FEATURES OF THAT
NEIGHBORHOOD. SO I WANT TO
RESPECT THE NEIGHBORHOOD, WANT
TO RESPECT THE COOL ARCHITECTURE
AND SURROUNDINGS AND SO IN ANY
EVENT, A LOT GOING ON THERE, BUT
GOOD NEWS OVERALL AND APPRECIATE
THE MAYOR AND HER OFFICE AND HER
LEADERSHIP FOR MAKING SURE WE
ARE DOING THE HARD WORK ON
PLANNING WHAT USED TO BE
CONTINGENCY PLANNING, NOW WE GET
TO GO EXECUTE. SO
CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN TO THE
SEAHAWKS, ONE OF MY DIRECT
CONSTITUENTS, BUT ALL OF OUR
CONSTITUENTS AS WELL, AND THAT
IS ALL FROM MY PERSPECTIVE. I
WELCOME ANY COMMENTS, QUESTIONS.
IF NOT, I WILL PASS THE BATON TO
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
SAKA. IF I COULD INTERJECT REAL
QUICK, WHEN I WAS PLAYING IN
GREECE, WE HAD THE TWO COASTS,
WHEN THEY WOULD PLAY, THEY WOULD
BURN CARS AFTER WINS. SO I'M
GLAD THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY
BURNING CARS LIKE THEY DID IN
ATHENS, GREECE, BUT IT'S GOOD
TO KNOW THEY ARE FIXING THE
PERGOLA IN YOUR DISTRICT WHICH
WE WANT PEOPLE TO HAVE FUN, BUT
NOT AT THE EXPENSE OF OTHER
PEOPLE'S -- YOU KNOW, CITY
PROPERTY AND SO FORTH. THANK
YOU, COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
COUNCILMEMBER FOSTER.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
I HAVE TO SAY I DIDN'T REALIZE
I WAS GOING AROUND NOW, SO
EXCITED. I GOT TO DO A BETTER
JOB TRACKING THE LINE HERE. I
WILL START OFF BY LOOKING
FORWARD TO MY COMMITTEE THIS
WEEK. SO, COLLEAGUES, WE MADE
THE DECISION TO MOVE THE
FEBRUARY 11th SESSION OF THE
HOUSING ARTS AND CIVIL RIGHTS
COMMITTEE TO VIRTUAL. SO THAT
WAS AT THE TIME THAT WE KNEW THE
SEAHAWKS WERE GOING TO WIN. WE
BELIEVED, BUT IT HADN'T HAPPENED
YET. COLLEAGUES, PLEASE DO, IF
ANYBODY HAS A CHANGE IN AGENDA
OR SCHEDULE, PLEASE LET ME
OFFICE KNOW IMMEDIATELY. WE ARE
REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO, I
THINK, A VERY EXCITING
DISCUSSION, TWO DISCUSSIONS IN
COMMITTEE, ONE FROM OUR VERY OWN
OFFICE OF HOUSING THAT IS GOING
TO BE A BIT OF AN OVERVIEW AND
HIGHLIGHT OF ITEMS WE NEED TO
TAKE UP AS A COMMITTEE AND
COUNCIL THIS YEAR AS WELL AS
GIVING US A BETTER PERSPECTIVE
INTO WHAT'S HAPPEN BE IN OUR
AFFORDABLE HOUSING MARKET AND
COMMUNITIES HERE IN SEATTLE. SO
I'M VERY, VERY MUCH LOOKING
FORWARD TO THAT DISCUSSION FROM
OFFICE OF HOUSING. WE WILL ALSO
HAVE THE SOCIAL HOUSING
DEVELOPER IN. COLLEAGUES,
THERE'S LEGISLATION THAT WILL
BE IN FRONT OF FULL COUNCIL THIS
WEEK TO FINALIZE THE INTERLOCAL
AGREEMENT AND MOVE THE RESOURCES
AS COMMITTED TO THE SOCIAL
HOUSING DEVELOPER AND IT IS ALSO
OUR DUTY AS A PARTNER TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE ARE MAKING SURE
INFORMATION ABOUT THE DEVELOPER
IS PUBLIC AND AVAILABLE. SO
WE'LL HAVE THE INTERIM DIRECTOR
AND SEVERAL NEW STAFF MEMBERS
FROM THE DEVELOPER IN COMMITTEE
TO TALK ABOUT THEIR WORK AND TO
GIVE US A BIT OF OVERVIEW OF THE
PROGRESS THEY'VE MADE WITH THE
$2 MILLION LOAN THAT COUNCIL
PROVIDED LAST YEAR AS WELL AS A
LOOK LADY INTO THE YEAR. SO I'M
REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS
CONVERSATION. LOOKING BACK AT
THE LAST WEEK, I WAS PLEASED TO
GET TO ATTEND THE GRAND OPENING
OF CLOVER PLACE. IT WAS ONE OF
THE MOMENTS LAST WEEK THAT GAVE
ME A LOT OF HOPE. WE ARE FACING
FEDERAL FUNDING CUTS AND
PARTICULARLY WITH COC DOLLARS WE
ARE LOOKING AT SOME REALLY
CHALLENGING TIMES AHEAD IN 2027
AND BEYOND. AS DIFFICULT AS THAT
IS, IT WAS A POWERFUL MOMENT TO
ATTEND THIS GRAND OPENING AND
CHAT WITH THE STAFF AT DESC
ABOUT THE WORK THEY ARE DOING
AND THE WAYS THEY ARE TRULY
INNOVATING IN BOTH THE DELIVERY
OF CARE IN THEIR PERMANENT
SUPPORTIVE HOUSING BUILDINGS AND
ALSO INNOVATING IN THE FUNDING
ENVIRONMENT THAT WE FACE. I
REALLY WANT TO JUST APPRECIATE
THE STAFF THERE FOR THEIR
INCREDIBLY HARD WORK THEY ARE
DOING TO HELP MAKE SURE WE ARE
BRINGING OUR NEIGHBORS INSIDE.
LAST WEEK I ALSO HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND ALONG WITH
COUNCILMEMBER LIN AND OTHER
FOLKS FROM THE CITY THE
SOUTHEAST SEATTLE PEACE
COALITION CONVENING. ONE OF THE
HIGHLIGHTS WAS TO HEAR DIRECTLY
FROM SOME STUDENTS AT FRANKLIN
HIGH SCHOOL ABOUT THEIR
EXPERIENCES AND THE WORK THEY'RE
DOING INSIDE THEIR SCHOOLS. SO I
ALSO JUST WANT TO UPLIFT AND
APPLAUD THE TWO YOUNG WOMEN IN
PARTICULAR THAT WE HEARD FROM
ABOUT HOW THEY ARE WORKING TO
INVEST IN MENTAL HEALTH AND
SAFETY AND WE'VE BEEN HEARING A
LOT FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS OVER
THE LAST COUPLE WEEKS ABOUT THE
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE'S FAMILY EDUCATION AND
PRESCHOOL PROMISE LEVY WITH THE
INVESTMENTS THAT WE MAKE IN OUR
SCHOOLS HERE. SO JUST APPRECIATE
THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE AND LOOK
FORWARD TO THE WORK WE GET TO DO
THIS YEAR ON THE IMPLEMENTATION
PLAN. THERE'S PROBABLY A FEW
OTHERS THINGS I SHOULD HIGHLIGHT
THAT I MAY BE FORGETTING. THAT
WAS AN EXCITING WEEK AND I'M
REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO
DIGGING IN ON WEDNESDAY ON SOME
OF OUR HOUSING WORK. NO, I'M
DONE. IT'S ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LIN.
>> THANK YOU. LAST WEEK WE HAD
OUR LAND USE COMMITTEE MEETING
AND DID RECOMMEND A COUPLE
PIECES OF LEGISLATION FOR
TOMORROW, SEPA EXEMPTION, SEPA
EXEMPTION-RELATED BILL AND SOME
CHANGES AROUND TRANSPORTATION
MANAGEMENT PLANS. WE DO HAVE ONE
SMALL TECHNICAL AMENDMENT THAT
WE'LL BE PROPOSING TOMORROW.
SPENT A LOT OF TIME, AS I
MENTIONED, LAST WEEK DOWN AT
RAINIER BEACH, REALLY APPRECIATE
-- COMMUNITY WAS ASKING FOLKS TO
SHOW UP DURING DISMISSAL TIMES
3:30 TO 5:00. THE COMMUNITY
REALLY APPRECIATES ALL THE
SUPPORT OF PEOPLE SHOWING UP AND
I'M SURE THEY WOULD CONTINUE TO
APPRECIATE IF FOLKS ARE ABLE TO
MAKE IT DOWN THERE DURING THAT
TIME PERIOD. ONE THING, HAD A
CHANCE TO CHAT WITH SCHOOL BOARD
MEMBERS, BRIEFLY CHAT WITH THE
NEW SEATTLE SCHOOL
SUPERINTENDENT, SPOKE WITH, YOU
KNOW, RAINIER BEACH PRINCIPAL
AND EDUCATORS AND, YEAH, ONE
THING TO ME IS JUST THE NEED FOR
BETTER COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE
CITY AND SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
YOU KNOW, THERE ARE SO MANY
DIFFERENT TOUCH POINTS WITH OUR
YOUTH. YOU KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE,
RAINIER BEACH HIGH SCHOOL, THEY
ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR SECURITY ON
THE SCHOOL CAMPUS, BUT THE
SHOOTING THAT OCCURRED WAS AT
THE BUS STOP ABOUT HALF A BLOCK
AWAY OR BLOCK AWAY. AND SO JUST
MAKING SURE WE DON'T -- THAT WE
HAVE A SEAMLESS TRANSITION AS
KIDS TRANSITION FROM SCHOOL TO
OUR COMMUNITY CENTERS TO THEIR
NEXT ACTIVITIES AND THAT REALLY
REQUIRES STRONG COLLABORATION
BETWEEN ALL OF US. ANOTHER THING
I DID LAST WEEK, SO SATURDAY
THERE WAS A MARCH, A CHINESE
EXPULSION REMEMBRANCE MARCH. SO
BACK IN 1886 THERE WAS A MOB
THAT ATTACKED AND EXPELLED THE
CHINESE COMMUNITY FROM SEATTLE.
THERE WAS A NUMBER OF SIMILAR
ACTIVITIES HAPPENING UP AND DOWN
THE WEST COAST THEN. SO THIS
REMEMBRANCE MARCH STARTED AT
HING HAY PARK, WENT DOWN TO THE
WATERFRONT WHICH WAS THE
ORIGINAL LOCATION OF CHINESE
TOWN, CHINESE IMMIGRANTS. THIS
IS WHERE CHINESE INTERNATIONAL
DISTRICT IS LOCATED NOW IS THE
THIRD LOCATION, BUT THERE WAS A
NUMBER OF SPEAKERS WHO CLEARLY
DREW THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE
DIVISIVE HATRED RHETORIC OF THAT
TIME AND WHAT WE ARE SEEING
TODAY AND ONE THING I SPOKE
ABOUT AND OTHERS SPOKE ABOUT IS
ALSO JUST THE RELATIONSHIP, HOW
THE FIGHT FOR EQUAL RIGHTS AND
CIVIL RIGHTS BENEFITS ALL OF US.
SO THERE IS A CONNECTION TO THE
BIRTH BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP
CASE BORN HERE BUT OF CHINESE
ANCESTRY, THAT CASE BASED UPON
THE 14th AMENDMENT. SO WE SEE
THE STRUGGLES OF ONE GROUP
BENEFITING ALL OF US. I SPOKE
ABOUT MY OWN FAMILY IN THE CASE
OF LOVING VERSUS VIRGINIA WHICH
AUTHORIZED INTERRACIAL MARRIAGES
WHICH ALLOWED MY PARENTS TO GET
MARRIED AND FOR MY FAMILY TO
EXIST, AGAIN BASES UPON THE 14th
AMENDMENT. AND SO, YOU KNOW, AS
WE REMEMBER SOME OF THE
STRUGGLES OF THE CHINESE
COMMUNITY, OF THE AAPI
COMMUNITY, AND AS WE CELEBRATE
BLACK HISTORY MONTH, I JUST WANT
TO HONOR AND RECOGNIZE THE
INCREDIBLE IMPORTANCE OF AGAIN
BLACK HISTORY TO OUR NATION, TO
ALL OF US, THAT WE ALL BENEFIT
AND SHOULD BE CELEBRATING BLACK
HISTORY. SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR
BRINGING FORTH THAT
PROCLAMATION. THAT'S ALL I
HAVE.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER LIN. COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
TO KICK US OFF WITH THE FUN
STUFF, WHAT AN INCREDIBLE SUPER
BOWL WIN OR AS SOME HAVE ALREADY
REFERENCED, THE BONITTO BOWL, AN
INCREDIBLE HALFTIME SHOW. I
THINK FOR ME AND SO MANY, A
REALLY JUST POWERFUL STATEMENT.
THERE WAS SO MUCH SYMBOLISM IN
THE HALFTIME SHOW. IT WAS A
POWERFUL POLITICAL STATEMENT
ABOUT THE MOMENT THAT WE'RE IN.
AS A PROUD WOMAN, I JUST FEEL
IMMENSE PRIDE IN THAT MOMENT. IT
WAS SUCH IMPORTANT
REPRESENTATION AND A POWERFUL
MESSAGE. I'M STILL FEELING VERY
EXCITED ABOUT THE GAME. I HAD
THE OPPORTUNITY TO WATCH
ALONGSIDE MY NEIGHBORS UP ON
CAPITOL HILL. I HAVE MY SEAHAWKS
NAILS ON. I KNOW THE CAMERA
PROBABLY CAN'T SEE. THEY'RE
LITTLE SEAHAWKS, VERY CUTE, GOOD
LUCK CHARM. VERY EXCITED FOR THE
VICTORY PARADE WEDNESDAY AND
JUST CAN'T WAIT TO CONTINUE
CELEBRATING. I KNOW THERE WERE A
LOT OF EXCITED FOLKS OUT LAST
NIGHT AND I THINK IT REALLY
SPOKE TO HOW MUCH PEOPLE WERE
REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO --
SEATTLE NEEDED A WIN. THE PEOPLE
NEEDED A WIN. I'M GLAD WE WERE
ABLE TO DELIVER. SO GO HAWKS!
THANK YOU FOR YOUR INCREDIBLE
WORK THIS SEASON. LET'S GO
CELEBRATE AND TO TAKE US TO SOME
COMMITTEE WORK, THANK YOU TO
EVERYONE FOR PARTICIPATING IN
COMMITTEE LAST WEEK WHERE WE HAD
A BRIEFING FROM THE OFFICE OF
LABOR STANDARDS ABOUT THEIR
WORK, BUT ALSO HEARD FROM OUR
FOLKS IN THE REGION DISABILITY
SERVICES WITHIN THE HUMAN
SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY TO CENTER THE OLDER
ADULTS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND ALSO
HEARD FROM THE OFFICE OF
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ON THE
RESOLUTION RELATED TO SOME OF
THE WORK DOWNTOWN. LOOKING AHEAD
TO OUR NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20th. WE'RE
PLANNING A DISCUSSION ON WAGE
EQUITY FOR HUMAN SERVICE
PROVIDERS, SO DEFINITELY
ENCOURAGE YOU TO PARTICIPATE IN.
TERMS OF REGIONAL COMMITTEES,
THIS WEEK WE'RE TAKING UP
BUDGET AND APPROVAL OF THE
FIVE-YEAR PLAN ADDENDUM, THE
FIRST OF THE YEAR. LASTLY, WHILE
I WANT TO ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO
LOOK TO OUR NEWS ALL RIGHT FOR
COMMUNITY UPDATES, I WANT TO
HIGHLIGHT ONE MEETING THIS WEEK
TIED TO OUR REGIONAL COMMITTEE
WORK AND OUR TEAM MET WITH PSRC
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR JOSH BROWN.
COLLEAGUES, I'LL BE SERVING ON
THE PSRC EXECUTIVE BOARD THIS
YEAR. I'M EXCITED AND HONORED
BECAUSE I THINK THERE'S SUCH AN
INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK
TO OUR PARTNERS AT THE PUGET
SOUND REGIONAL COUNCIL WHICH
REPRESENTS ELECTED OFFICIALS
ACROSS KING, SNOHOMISH, PIERCE
COUNTY AND LOOK TOWARDS OTHER
MUNICIPALITIES AS WE'RE
NAVIGATING A REALLY CHALLENGING
TIME. SO EXCITED TO PARTICIPATE
IN THE PUGET SOUND REGIONAL
COUNCIL NOT ONLY TO REPRESENT
SEATTLE, BUT TO BUILD
RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS WHO ARE IN MANY
CASES FACING THE SAME THINGS WE
ARE AND BE ABLE TO TALK THROUGH,
IDENTIFY SOLUTIONS, COMPARE
NOTES, BUT BUILD THOSE
PARTNERSHIPS WE'LL NEED TO
WEATHER WHAT IS AHEAD OF US.
WITH THAT, COUNCIL PRESIDENT,
THAT CONCLUDES MY UPDATE. THANK
YOU.
>> AWESOME. ARE THERE ANY
QUESTIONS FOR COUNCILMEMBER
RINCK? AWESOME. COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
FOR THE VIEWING PUBLIC, I CAN
CONFIRM THE REPORT ABOUT
SEAHAWKS ON MY COLLEAGUE'S
NAILS.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER.
>> I DID WANT TO SAY
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE SEAHAWKS,
UNBELIEVABLE VICTORY, SMOTHERING
AND I JUST WANT TO NOTE, HAD AN
INTERVIEW RECENTLY THAT TALKED
ABOUT THE THREE BRANCHES OF
GOVERNMENT AND WHAT WAS ON
DISPLAY YESTERDAY WAS THE THREE
ELEMENTS OF A FOOTBALL TEAM. I
KNOW KENNETH LOCKER III WAS THE
MVP OF THE SUPER BOWL, BUT THE
DEFENSE ITSELF COULD HAVE AGAIN
THE MVP AND I THINK OF ERNEST
JONES IV WHO I THINK HAD 11
TACKLES IN THE GAME, IF I
REMEMBER RIGHT, AND SPECIAL
TEAMS BOTH JASON MYERS, RECORD
BREAKING NUMBER OF FIELD GOALS
AND IT WAS A COMPLETE WIN ACROSS
ALL THREE ELEMENTS AND AREAS OF
FOOTBALL AND IT WAS AN
UNBELIEVABLE TEAM WIN AND AN
INCREDIBLE END. THE FUTURE IS
THERE, TOO, NUMBER OF ROOKIES. I
GIVE A SHOUT ON THE TO A
FRIEND'S NEPHEW WHO IS PLAYING,
NUMBER 77, GREY ZABEL, WHO I
THINK IS DESTINED TO BECOME A
LONG TIME ALL PRO. SO AGAIN, A
COMPLETE ALL PHASES OF FOOTBALL,
ALL ELEMENTS. IT WAS INCREDIBLE,
KIND OF SETTING THE EXAMPLE FOR
US ACROSS THE EXECUTIVE,
JUDICIARY, AND LEGISLATIVE
BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT. THAT'S
MY SEGUE TO MY STANDARD UPDATE.
TOMORROW WE HAVE PUBLIC SAFETY
COMMITTEE AND WE HAVE TWO
PIECES. WE HAVE AN EVALUATION ON
ORDINANCE 12689 BY OIG AND THAT
IS ON THE PUBLIC DRUG USE AND
POSSESSION BILL AND SEPARATELY
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA COUNCIL
BILL 112158, COUNCIL IN SHARING
ENFORCEMENT OF CIVIL IMMIGRATION
LAWS, BASICALLY UPDATING AND
BECOMING MORE COMPREHENSIVE IN
TERMS OF OUR APPROACH. SO I
THANK COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA FOR
THIS AND IN TERMS OF BASICALLY
BRINGING IN THE DIFFERENT PIECES
THAT WE NEED TO WORK ON,
PARTICULARLY WITH RESPECT TO
FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT. SO THAT
IS THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMUNITY
MEETING FOR TOMORROW. IN TERMS
OF SCHEDULES, MEETINGS AND
GROUPS AND INDIVIDUALS, TODAY I
MET WITH OUR NEW -- WELL,
INTERIM DIRECTOR OF CBO, THE
BUDGET OFFICE, DIRECTOR BENUCCI,
VERY GOOD MEETING, GREAT MEETING
WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF
NEIGHBORHOODS AND OUTSIDE GROUP
NIAP TALKED ABOUT DEVELOPING
BASICALLY OUR COMP PLAN AND
MOVING FORWARD. TOMORROW GUN
RESPONSIBILITY, WEDNESDAY
MEETING WITH THE OIG, AN UPDATE
ON ALL THE PIECES ENGAGING WITH
OUR ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNERS, IN
IN CASE THE OIG, FOLLOWED BY AT
LUNCHEON WITH THE RETIRED
SEATTLE POLICE OFFICERS
ASSOCIATION THAT COUNCIL
PRESIDENT KNOWS SO WELL FROM HER
PAST DUTY RELATED TO THE POLICE
PRESENTATION BOARD. SO THAT WILL
BE THURSDAY, ALWAYS WELCOME TO
JOIN ME, COUNCIL PRESIDENT, BUT
I'LL BE THERE AND THEN FRIDAY
WE HAVE ANOTHER EDITION OF OUR
DISTRICT 7 NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL
BRINGING IN ALL THE VARIOUS
PIECES OF D7 IN TERMS OF
COMMUNITY COUNCILS LIKE
MAGNOLIA, QUEEN ANNE, SOUTH LAKE
UNION, BELLTOWN, DOWNTOWN, PLUS
UPTOWN ALLIANCE ALONG WITH SOME
FOCUS GROUPS LIKE SEATTLE
NEIGHBORHOOD GREENWAYS AND
OTHERS, LOOKING FORWARD TO ALSO
MEETING THAT DAY ON THE PORT OF
SEATTLE IN TERMS OF FLUSHING OUT
THE IDEA THE CITY OF SEATTLE
MARITIME STRATEGY AND AS IT
HAPPENS RECEIVED A GREAT UPDATE
FROM ILWU LOCAL 19 IN TERMS OF
THEIR PRIORITIES AS IT RELATES
TO THE MARITIME -- OUR MARITIME
PRESENCE AND ALSO COMMUNITY
PASSAGEWAYS, WHICH IS REALLY
IMPORTANT. NEXT WEEK BE OUT FOR
A BIT ALONG WITH THE HOLIDAY AND
THEN ON THURSDAY MEETING WITH
THE DESIGN REVIEW GROUP, ALSO
LIME WHO I MEET IMMEDIATELY OR
MY TEAM MEETS ON A REGULAR BASIS
AND SDOT. [ CAPTIONERS
TRANSITIONING ]
>> FOREIGN POLICY OF AMERICA HAS
GREAT INTEREST IN INTERNATIONAL
AFFAIRS AND HOW IT PLAYS WITH
LOCAL POLITICS, LOCAL
GOVERNMENT. THE LAST THING I
WANTED TO SAY IS I WAS QUITE
PROUD TO JOIN OUR COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. BUT ON SATURDAY WAS
THE GRAND OPENING OF THE COFFEE
AT THE OVERLOOK WALK. YOU KNOW,
I NOTED WE'RE VERY NORTH, SOUTH
CITY, BUT THESE EAST, WEST
CONNECTIONS ARE SO IMPORTANT
FROM THE WATERFRONT TO THE
STADIUMS, TO PIONEER SQUARE,
PIKE PINE, TO THE MARKET, AND
THEN THE MARKET TO MOHI, BELL
STREET, AND ALL THESE. BUT THE
OVERLOOK WALK IS SO IMPORTANT.
BUT NOW IT'S NOT JUST THE
CONNECTION, BUT IT'S A
DESTINATION THERE. SO IT WAS A
REALLY GREAT, LOTS OF ENERGY,
BEAUTIFUL CEREMONY. I JUST
WANTED TO NOTE ONE LAST THING
BECAUSE I KIND OF REFERENCED
THIS A LITTLE BIT DURING MY
REMARKS AT THE EVENT. BUT FROM
THE OWNER, YOU KNOW, HE
IMMIGRATED TO AMERICA IN 1988.
AND FOR SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN
WORKING INTERNET SECURITY
AFFAIRS, THAT'S A VERY
DIFFICULT PART OF THE WORLD IN
THAT TIME PERIOD WITH ETHIOPIA
AND ALL THE CHALLENGES. YOU
KNOW, FOR HIM AND HIS FAMILY TO
COME TO AMERICA IN 1988 AND TO
WORK AND SEEK OUT THAT AMERICAN
DREAM. YOU KNOW, IT CONNECTED
ME. I WAS THINKING OF MY FATHER.
YOU KNOW, THAT IS THE STORY. HE
HAS BUILT THIS BUSINESS. HE'S
PROVIDING JOBS FOR SO MANY
PEOPLE. HE'S PROVIDING FOR HIS
FAMILY. AND I KNOW THE STORY OF
IMMIGRATION IN LIGHT OF THE
CURRENT ADMINISTRATION AT THE
FEDERAL LEVEL IS ONE THING. BUT
I THINK THAT STORY AND FROM THE
LEADERSHIP AND HIS HARD WORK AND
DEDICATION INITIATIVE, IT'S
REALLY A STORY OF AMERICA. I
THINK IT IS REALLY SOMETHING
THAT SHOULD BE CELEBRATED.
NEVERMIND THE COFFEE. IT IS
REALLY WHAT HE'S DONE, AND WHAT
HE REPRESENTS BECAUSE HE'S NOT
THE ONLY IMMIGRANT WHO HAS COME
TO AMERICA, WORKED HARD, AND
MADE THINGS HAPPEN. SO I JUST
WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT BECAUSE
I THINK IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO
CHANGE THE NARRATIVE THAT COMES
OUT OF WASHINGTON, D.C., THE
OTHER WASHINGTON. INSTEAD, FOCUS
ON THE STORIES THAT ARE HERE,
RELATED TO IMMIGRATION. AND THE
EVENTS ON SATURDAY, WHICH IS A
BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF THAT. AND
WITH THAT, COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I
TURN IT OVER TO YOU.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE. AND
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
I JUST THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
KETTLE FOR TALKING ABOUT IT. I
WILL SAY THEY ARE ALSO IN THE
DISTRICT AND THE UNIVERSITY
BOOKSTORE, AND I'VE HAD THE
PLEASURE OF MEETING WITH THEM.
THIS IS VERY MUCH A GOOD STORY,
AND IT IS IMPORTANT TO AMPLIFY
THE STORIES THAT GO AGAINST WHAT
THE OTHER IS TALKING ABOUT IN
TERMS OF OUR IMMIGRANT
RESIDENTS, NOT JUST HERE IN
SEATTLE, BUT ACROSS THE UNITED
STATES. THIS IS ONE OF MANY
STORIES, AND IT IS REALLY
CRITICAL. IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT
OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES ARE
FEELING SO ATTACKED RIGHT NOW.
IT WAS SUCH A GREAT CELEBRATION.
I KNOW I WAS UNABLE TO ATTEND
THIS WEEKEND, BUT I AM VERY
SUPPORTIVE, AND I'M LOOKING
FORWARD TO GOING TO THE
WATERFRONT TO GO THERE AND NOT
JUST THE ONE IN THE DISTRICT. OF
COURSE, THERE IS ONE ON CAPITOL
HILL AS WELL. SO IT REALLY IS A
GREAT STORY AND ONE OF MANY,
MANY, SO CONGRATULATIONS. WE ARE
SO HAPPY THEY'RE IN THE CITY.
>> YES, AGAIN, OVERLOOK WALK.
NOT JUST A CONNECTION, BUT NOW A
DESTINATION.
>> THAT'S RIGHT. THAT'S RIGHT.
THANK YOU, CP.
>> NO PROBLEM. THANK YOU,
COLLEAGUES. JUST A FOLLOWUP, I
THINK ONE OF THE GREATEST THINGS
I HEARD, HE CAME HERE WITH HIS
FAMILY IN THE 80s. THE FIRST
LOCATION THEY WENT TO WAS PIKE
PLACE MARKET. AND NOW, HE HAS A
STORE RIGHT NEXT TO PIKE PLACE
MARKET. IF THAT'S NOT THE
AMERICAN DREAM, I DON'T KNOW
WHAT IS. SO GOVERN GOVERNANCE
AND UTILITIES WILL BE THURSDAY.
MY COMMITTEE WILL BE ON
THURSDAY, THIS THURSDAY, AT 9:30
A.M. WE HAVE THREE POSSIBLE
VOTES, WHICH IS THE RESERVOIR.
WE ALSO HAVE SPU WATER SUPPLY.
SORRY. WATER SUPPLY FORUM, ILA,
AND WE ALSO HAVE THE CEDAR RIVER
WATERSHED, SO WE HAVE SOME BILLS
THAT ARE COMING THAT IT IS SOME
TECHNICAL STUFF. AND I KNOW SPU
HAS REACHED OUT TO GIVE
INDIVIDUAL BRIEFINGS ABOUT THOSE
AS WELL, SO LOOKING FORWARD TO
TALKING ABOUT THOSE. AND WE WILL
ALSO HAVE A PRESENTATION FROM
ITD FROM COMCAST, THE TECHNOLOGY
ABOUT COMCAST AGREEMENT,
FRANCHISE AGREEMENT, WHICH IS
IMPORTANT. WE ALL KNOW THAT WE
HAVE AN AGREEMENT WITH THE CABLE
PROVIDER, AND THAT HELPS FUND
SOME PROGRAMS WITHIN OUR CITY,
WHETHER IT IS DIGITAL EQUITY
WORK OR THE SEATTLE CHANNEL,
DIFFERENT STUFF. SO THAT
PRESENTATION IS GOING TO BE
IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THE
INNER WORKINGS OF THAT
AGREEMENT, WHICH IS GREAT. I
ALSO HAVE A MEETING WITH THE
POLICE PENSION BOARD COMING UP
AS WELL. SO THAT IS QUARTERLY.
AND COLLEAGUES, IF THERE IS NOT
-- I DON'T HAVE QUESTIONS FOR
MYSELF. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS
AT ALL? COUNCILMEMBER SAKA, OR
ANY FURTHER BUSINESS?
>> THANK YOU, MADAM COUNCIL
PRESIDENT. I JUST WANTED TO
RECOGNIZE, JUST PILING ON THE
COMMENTS FROM MY COLLEAGUES,
COUNCILMEMBERS RIVERA AND THEN
RINCK, ABOUT THE CULTURAL
IMPORTANT, BROADLY AND
INCLUSIVELY DEFINED FROM BAD
BUNNY'S PERFORMANCE YESTERDAY
AT HALFTIME SUPER BOWL. YOU
KNOW, I CAN ONLY IMAGINE HOW OUR
LATINO FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS
MIGHT HAVE -- THAT MIGHT HAVE
BEEN SUCH A SIGNIFICANT AND
IMPORTANT EVENT FOR THEM BECAUSE
REPRESENTATION DOES MATTER. BUT
NOT ONLY JUST LATINOS, BUT MORE
SPECIFICALLY, SO LIKE
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA. BUT I
THINK THAT WAS SUCH A COOL
MOMENT FOR ALL OF US, FRANKLY,
AND AS A FAN OF BAD BUNNY, I
THOUGHT IT WAS SUPER COOL. YOU
KNOW, SELFISHLY, I WAS A LITTLE
SADDENED HE DIDN'T PERFORM MY
FAVORITE BAD BUNNY SONG. BUT
THAT IS PROBABLY A LITTLE MORE
SLOW PACE THAN THE FAST-PACE
UPBEAT NATURE OF THE REST OF HIS
SONGS HE PERFORMED YESTERDAY.
BUT SUPER COOL EVENT. AS AN
AMERICAN, I'M PROUD TO SEE IT,
AND I CAN ONLY IMAGINE HOW, YOU
KNOW, SEEING THAT REPRESENTATION
IMPACTED OTHER PEOPLE IN AN EVEN
MORE PROFOUND WAY. SO THANK YOU.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU,
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA.
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA?
>> THANK YOU, CP, AND THANK YOU
COUNCILMEMBER SAKA. REALLY TO
HAVE A SPANISH LANGUAGE HALFTIME
SHOW, ALL IN SPANISH,
PREDOMINANTLY IN SPANISH, IS A
SOURCE OF PRIDE FOR ALL LATINOS,
BUT THE INCLUSIVE NATURE IS WHAT
REALLY MADE IT ALSO SUPER
SPECIAL. WE ARE ALL AMERICAN.
NORTH AMERICA, CENTRAL AMERICA,
CENTRAL AMERICA, ALL ACROSS THE
BOARD. HE EVEN TALKED ABOUT
CANADA. SO IT REALLY WAS AN
INCLUSIVE, ALL THE FLAGS,
EVERYONE IS WELCOMED. IT IS
REKNOW SENT, VERY REMINISCENT.
IN MY FAMILY, WE DIDN'T HAVE
VERY MUCH, BUT WHAT WE HAD,
EVERYONE WAS WELCOMED AT OUR
TABLE FOR A LITTLE SPOON OF
RICE, AS MY MOM USED TO CALL IT.
SOMEHOW THE RICE WOULD GROW,
EVEN THOUGH IT WASN'T VERY
MUCH. I THINK IT WAS JUST THE
LOVE THAT WAS POURED INTO IT AND
JUST THE SHARING. AND THAT'S
WHAT -- THERE WAS SO MUCH
SYMBOLIC CULTURAL ASPECTS TO
THIS. FOR THE PEOPLE THAT DON'T
SPEAK SPANISH, I UNDERSTAND, YOU
DIDN'T HEAR WHAT WAS, WHAT HE
WAS SAYING. I DON'T THINK YOU
REALLY NEEDED TO BECAUSE YOU
COULD SEE IT. IT WAS JUST ALL
ABOUT EVERYONE COMING TOGETHER
AND EVERYONE JUST BEING INCLUDED
AND WELCOMED. RIGHT NOW, WE
NEEDED THAT. SO SEATTLE NEEDED
THE SUPER BOWL WIN, AND I LOVE
THE SEAHAWKS. I'M SO HAPPY THEY
WON THE LAST TIME THEY WON THE
SUPER BOWL, MY YOUNGEST WAS
FOUR, I THINK. SO THAT WAS
REALLY SPECIAL. AND ALSO, WE
NEEDED THE UNITY THAT CAME WITH
THE BAD BUNNY CONCERT BECAUSE IT
MAY BE MUSIC TO SOME, AND I
APPRECIATE SOME PEOPLE. DON'T
LISTEN -- BUT, YOU KNOW, IT
REALLY IS THIS UNIFYING PIECE
AND THE CULTURAL ASPECTS THAT I
THINK EVERYONE, REGARDLESS OF
WHETHER THAT'S THE MUSIC YOU
LISTEN TO OR NOT, COULD
APPRECIATE. AND THAT MADE IT
REALLY SPECIAL. LIKE I SAID FOR
LATINOS IN THIS COUNTRY,
PARTICULARLY IN THIS MOMENT IN
TIME, IT WAS A REALLY UNIFYING
PIECE. I'M VERY GRATEFUL AND
APPRECIATIVE, AND I LOVE THE
FACT THIS IS HOW WELCOMING HE
WAS. HE PERFORMED. THAT WAS A
REAL LIFE MARRIAGE CEREMONY. IF
YOU MAY NOT HAVE READ IN THE
PAPER, THOSE FOLKS REACHED OUT
TO HIM TO INVITE THEM TO THEIR
WEDDING, AND HE SAID WHY DON'T
YOU COME GET MARRIED AT THE
SUPER BOWL HALFTIME SHOW WITH
ME. BUT THAT JUST GOES TO SHOW,
I MEAN, JUST THE LOVE. AND
REALLY, LIKE I SAID, IT MAY HAVE
BEEN JUST A MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
THING, BUT IT WAS SO MUCH MORE
THAN THAT. IT WAS REALLY THE
HEARTFELT, CULTURAL PIECE, AND
THE PRIDE OF LATINOS IT IN THIS
COUNTRY. SO THAT WAS REALLY
SOMETHING AMAZING FOR ME TO SEE.
I'VE NEVER SING TO THAT LEVEL
IN ALMOST SEVEN YEARS I'VE HAD
ON THIS PLANET. SO THANK YOU FOR
THE SPACE TO SAY THAT,
COLLEAGUES. IT REALLY WAS AN
AMAZING PIECE FOR ME PERSONALLY,
FOR MY CHILDREN, FOR MY FAMILY.
I WAS COMMUNICATING WITH MY
RELATIVES IN PUERTO RICO DURING
THE EVENT. IT REALLY WAS AN
AMAZING PIECE. SO THANK YOU FOR
TALKING ABOUT THAT, AND YOU
KNOW, LIKE I SAID, FOR ALL
LATINOS IN THIS COUNTRY, IT
REALLY WAS AN AMAZING WELCOMING
PIECE. THANK YOU, CP.
>> EVEN THOUGH SOME PEOPLE MIGHT
NOT HAVE UNDERSTOOD WHAT WAS
GOING ON, THERE WAS A SIGN AT
THE END THAT SAID THE ONLY THING
MORE POWERFUL THAN HATE IS LOVE.
>> IS LOVE.
>> AND ALSO SHOUT OUT TO STEVIE
WONDER BECAUSE HE HAD THE
GREATEST SONG OF ALL TIME THAT
SAID HATE KNOWS THAT LOVE IS THE
CURE. YOU CAN REST YOUR MIND
I'LL BE LOVING YOU ALWAYS, SO
WE ALWAYS KNOW LOVE CONCURS
HATE, WHICH IS GREAT. THANK YOU
ALL. HE'S THE GREATEST ARTIST
OF ALL TIME, AND BAD BUNNY WAS
PHENOMENAL YESTERDAY.
PHENOMENAL.
>> PHENOMENAL. MUOY BUEN.
HEARING NO FURTHER BUSINESS, WE
WILL NOW MOVE INTO THE EXECUTIVE
SESSION. AS PRESIDING OFFICER, I
AM ANNOUNCING THE SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL WILL NOW CONVENE INTO
THE EXECUTIVE SESSION. THE
PURPOSE OF THIS EXECUTIVE
SESSION IS TO DISCUSS PENDING
AND POTENTIAL OR ACTUAL
LITIGATION. THE CITY COUNCIL'S
EXECUTIVE SESSION IS AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COUNCIL TO
DISCUSS CONFIDENTIAL LEGAL
MATTERS WITH CITY ATTORNEY, AS
AUTHORIZED BY LAW. LEGAL MONITOR
FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
IS ALWAYS PRESENT TO ENSURE THE
COUNCIL RESERVES QUESTIONS FOR
POLICY FOR OPEN SESSION. SO I
EXPECT THE TIME OF THE EXECUTIVE
SESSION TO END BY 4:45 P.M.
TODAY. SO YEP, 4:45 P.M. TODAY.
IF THE EXECUTIVE SESSION IS
EXTENDED BEYOND THAT TIME, I
EXPECT AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE
SESSION. THIS COUNCIL BRIEFING
MEETING WILL AUTOMATICALLY
ADJOURN. THE NEXT REGULAR
SCHEDULED COUNCIL BRIEFING
MEETING IS ON FEBRUARY 23, 2026,
AT 2:00 P.M. THE COUNCIL IS NOW
IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. THANK YOU,
COLLEAGUES, AND THANK YOU
PUBLIC. [ MEETING WILL RESUME
AFTER EXECUTIVE SESSION ]