Council Briefing - June 15, 2024

This June 2nd, 2025 Seattle City Council briefing featured **seven councilmembers** discussing upcoming legislative priorities and community engagement activities. Key participants included Council President Nelson, Councilmembers Rinck, Rivera, Saka, Solomon, Strauss, Hollingsworth, and Kettle (Councilmember Moore was excused). **Major upcoming items** include: - **Chief of Police confirmation** for Sean Fitzgerald Barnes on June 10th - **Transportation levy oversight committee** appointments (June 3rd) - **Interactive media kiosks** resolution with proposed amendments limiting terms - **Comprehensive plan** discussions beginning June 5th - **EMS levy** on expedited timeline for ballot placement **Budget implications** include exceptions ordinance approval, advanced bond repayment using accrued interest, and ongoing response to April revenue downturn forecast. **Timeline highlights**: Multiple committee meetings scheduled through mid-June, with particular focus on public safety, transportation infrastructure, and comprehensive planning initiatives.

### Transportation Levy Oversight Committee Appointments **Background context**: The newly passed transportation levy requires establishment of an 18-19 member oversight committee with specific expertise requirements. **Current status**: - First slate of four appointments already approved - Three additional council appointments scheduled for June 3rd committee vote - **Goal**: Complete appointments to enable first committee meeting on June 17th **Technical details**: - Committee composition includes one transportation committee chair (automatic) - Seven district-based councilmember appointments - Five mayoral appointments - Representatives from bike, freight, pedestrian, and transit advocacy groups - **Strong preference** for auditing and engineering experience ### Interactive Media Kiosks Program **Background context**: Downtown Seattle Association proposal for digital kiosks in public spaces, with revenue-sharing component for community organizations. **Current status**: Resolution 32170 scheduled for full council vote with two proposed amendments: - **Amendment A**: Additional permit conditions - **Amendment B**: Reduce term from 15+15 years to 10+10 years **Technical details**: - **High capital outlay** required for digital infrastructure installation - Revenue projections depend on **predictable long-term contracts** - Timeline driven by potential World Cup installation deadline - **Opposition concern**: Shorter terms may create "poison pill" effect on project viability ### EMS Levy Implementation **Background context**: King County-wide emergency medical services levy requiring interlocal agreement execution. **Current status**: - **Expedited timeline** for committee review due to ballot placement deadlines - Briefing and potential vote scheduled for June 10th public safety committee - **Six-year voter-approved** countywide property tax levy

### Coalition Patterns on Kiosk Legislation **Key alliances**: - Council President Nelson **strongly opposes** Amendment B (term reduction) - Ballard Alliance and other business districts **support longer terms** - Revenue-dependent organizations concerned about **financial viability** **Strategic motivations**: - Councilmember Strauss frames amendments as **technology evolution** consideration - Business community emphasizes **capital investment recovery** needs - **World Cup timeline** creates urgency pressure ### Public Safety Leadership Transition **Strategic positioning**: - Councilmember Kettle emphasizes **deliberate confirmation timeline** for Chief Barnes - **Experience-building approach**: Allowing new chief to encounter Seattle-specific challenges before confirmation - **Community engagement priority**: Multiple precinct meetings and stakeholder interactions **Power dynamics**: - Chief Barnes has navigated **protests, counterprotests, and violent crime** during interim period - **Regional coordination** emphasis on Star Chase technology and EMS services ### Budget Reform Implementation **Key alliances**: - **Significant staff turnover** impacting budget analysis capacity - **Six-year lookback** analysis delayed due to personnel departures - **Process improvements** focused on transparency and council input **Strategic implications**: - **Downturn response** measures being implemented by executive branch - **Advanced bond repayment** using interest earnings demonstrates fiscal management - **Exceptions ordinance** shows improved departmental budget compliance

### Immediate Opportunities for Public Input **Transportation Levy Oversight**: - **Contact strategy**: Reach out to district councilmembers about appointee qualifications - **Timeline**: Appointments vote June 3rd, first committee meeting June 17th - **Focus areas**: Advocate for appointees with relevant technical expertise **Interactive Kiosks Program**: - **Key decision point**: Full council vote June 3rd at 2:00 PM - **Contact strategy**: Email councilmembers before 2:00 PM Tuesday with position on amendments - **Impact focus**: Revenue implications for community organizations **Comprehensive Plan Process**: - **First meeting**: June 5th at 9:30 AM (written comment only) - **Public input session**: June 13th at 9:30 AM - **Contact strategy**: Submit written comments early in process for maximum impact ### Key Decision Points and Timelines **June 3rd (Tuesday)**: - Transportation committee at 9:30 AM - Full council at 2:00 PM (kiosks vote) **June 5th (Thursday)**: - Comprehensive plan committee at 9:30 AM **June 10th (Monday)**: - Public safety committee (Chief confirmation, EMS levy) **June 11th (Wednesday)**: - Parks utilities technology committee at 2:00 PM - Select budget committee at 9:30 AM ### Contact Strategies for Maximum Impact **For Transportation Issues**: - **Primary contact**: Councilmember Saka (Transportation Committee Chair) - **District representatives**: Contact your district councilmember for levy oversight appointments **For Public Safety Concerns**: - **Primary contact**: Councilmember Kettle (Public Safety Committee Chair) - **Timing**: Before June 10th committee meeting for Chief confirmation input **For Budget Matters**: - **Primary contact**: Councilmember Strauss (Select Budget Committee Chair) - **Focus**: Process improvements and transparency measures

### Related Policies and Initiatives **Transportation Infrastructure**: - **Seattle Transportation Plan** (2024) connects to regional planning efforts - **Regional Transit Fare Coordination** through multi-agency forum - **Sound Transit budget reform** impacts local service delivery **Public Safety Integration**: - **Chief confirmation process** links to OPA investigation procedures reform - **Regional EMS coordination** connects to countywide service delivery - **Community safety planning** integrates with event security protocols **Budget Process Reform**: - **Exceptions ordinance** demonstrates improved fiscal controls - **Bond management** shows proactive debt reduction strategies - **Revenue forecasting** responds to economic downturn projections ### Upcoming Milestones and Deadlines **June 2025**: - Multiple committee votes on transportation, public safety, and planning issues - **Comprehensive plan** public input process begins - **EMS levy** ballot placement deadline approaches **Summer 2025**: - **Transportation levy** oversight committee operational - **Chief of Police** confirmation expected completion - **Budget development** for 2026 cycle begins ### Cross-cutting Themes and Implications **Regional Coordination**: - Transportation planning spans multiple jurisdictions - Public safety services require county-wide cooperation - Economic development connects to regional competitiveness **Community Engagement**: - Multiple councilmembers emphasizing **proactive outreach** - **Event security planning** balances safety with civil rights - **Neighborhood-level** input on comprehensive planning **Fiscal Management**: - **Revenue challenges** driving process improvements - **Long-term planning** emphasis across multiple policy areas - **Transparency measures** responding to public accountability demands

### Budget Implications and Funding Sources **Transportation Levy Oversight**: - **No direct city cost** for committee operations - **Staff support** provided through existing SDOT budget - **Audit functions** may require additional consultant contracts **Interactive Kiosks Revenue Model**: - **Capital investment** estimated in millions for full deployment - **Revenue sharing** percentage not specified in current legislation - **Permit fees** structure to be determined in subsequent ordinance **EMS Levy Financial Structure**: - **Six-year property tax** levy approved by voters - **Interlocal agreement** determines Seattle's allocation methodology - **Service delivery** coordination with King County Medic One ### Procedural Insights and Next Steps **Committee Process Modifications**: - **Written comment periods** being used for high-volume issues - **Briefing requirements** for non-committee members on complex votes - **Amendment timing** creating coordination challenges **Confirmation Process Innovation**: - **Extended timeline** allows real-world experience before confirmation - **Community engagement** integrated into evaluation process - **Performance assessment** based on actual Seattle challenges ### Implementation Challenges and Opportunities **Staffing Capacity Issues**: - **Budget office turnover** impacting analysis capabilities - **Central staff shortages** affecting committee support - **Department coordination** challenges with multiple initiatives **Technology Integration**: - **Digital infrastructure** deployment timeline constraints - **Regional system compatibility** requirements for transit coordination - **Data management** needs for oversight and accountability functions **Community Coordination**: - **Multi-agency response** protocols for event security - **Neighborhood engagement** capacity for comprehensive planning - **Stakeholder communication** systems for ongoing input processes