Council Briefing - June 16, 2024

This Seattle City Council briefing on June 17, 2025, was dominated by **procedural preparations for a District 5 vacancy** following Council Member Kathy Moore's announced resignation effective July 7, 2025. The meeting featured a comprehensive presentation on the **20-day appointment process** mandated by the Seattle City Charter, with applications opening July 2nd and final selection required by July 28th. **Key participants:** Council President, Council Members Rivera, Saka, Strauss, Hollingsworth, and Kettle (Moore and Solomon excused), City Clerk Scheereen Dedman, and Legislative Legal Counsel Lauren Henry. **Major agenda items for tomorrow's full council:** - **15 items on Introduction and Referral Calendar** including appointments to various boards - **7 pieces of legislation** including collective bargaining agreement, algorithmic rent-fixing ordinance, and surveillance technology implementation - **Juneteenth proclamation** presentation **Critical timeline:** The vacancy process represents the council's third appointment in recent years, potentially creating **two concurrent appointees** serving simultaneously - an unprecedented situation requiring historical verification.

### District 5 Vacancy Appointment Process **Background Context:** The Seattle City Charter Article 19, Section 6 mandates an expedited 20-day process for filling council vacancies, designed to ensure continuous representation while maintaining democratic legitimacy through community input. **Current Status and Key Requirements:** - **Eligibility criteria** include U.S. citizenship, active voter registration in Seattle and District 5 for 120+ days, and English literacy - **Application window:** July 2-9, 2025 (5:00 PM deadline) - **Community forum** required with input from community entities on structure, questions, and accessibility - **Final selection** requires minimum 5 votes (majority of all council members) **Technical Details:** - Applications must include cover letter, resume, and financial interest statement - King County Elections partnership verifies **active voter registration** status - **Inactive voters** (often due to returned mail indicating address changes) are ineligible - Community entities can participate in forum development or provide general feedback ### Upcoming Legislative Priorities **Algorithmic Rent-Fixing Ordinance:** Council Member Strauss announced plans for **floor amendments** requiring SDCI to communicate with landlords about law changes and report back on enforcement options - indicating potential implementation concerns. **Every Child Ready Initiative:** Final vote scheduled for tomorrow following unanimous committee passage with 12 amendments, representing culmination of extensive deliberative process.

### Coalition Patterns and Strategic Positioning **Vacancy Process Dynamics:** The presentation's emphasis on **procedural clarity** suggests lessons learned from previous appointments. Council Member Saka's inquiry about **ranked choice voting** possibilities indicates potential interest in alternative selection methods, though charter constraints limit options. **Strategic Motivations:** - **Expedited timeline** (20 days) creates pressure for quick community mobilization - **Community forum requirements** balance democratic input with practical constraints - **Five-vote threshold** ensures broad council consensus rather than simple majority rule **Power Dynamics:** The requirement for community entity participation in forum development creates **structured influence opportunities** for organized groups while potentially disadvantaging less organized constituencies. ### Interest Group Influence Patterns **Grocery Store Crisis:** Council Member Hollingsworth's **passionate advocacy** regarding Whole Foods closure and struggling Broadway grocery stores reveals **food access equity** as emerging political priority, with potential policy implications for business retention strategies. **Regional Transportation Coordination:** Multiple council members' involvement in Sound Transit and regional committees demonstrates **multi-jurisdictional policy coordination** becoming increasingly central to Seattle governance.

### Immediate Opportunities for Public Input **District 5 Vacancy Application Process:** - **Application submission:** July 2-9, 2025, to councilvacancy@seattle.gov - **Community entity participation:** Same timeline for forum development input - **Public forum attendance:** Anticipated July 21st (date subject to confirmation) - **Public comment opportunity:** July 22nd special meeting **Comprehensive Plan Public Hearing:** - **Virtual session:** June 23rd, 9:30 AM - **In-person session:** June 23rd, 3:00 PM in Council Chambers - **Extended format** designed for maximum public participation ### Key Decision Points and Timelines **Critical Dates:** - **June 18:** Full Council vote on Every Child Ready Initiative - **June 23:** All-day Comprehensive Plan public hearing - **July 28:** Final District 5 appointment vote (day 20 of charter-mandated process) **Strategic Timing Considerations:** - **120-day residency requirement** means potential D5 candidates must already be established residents - **Community forum structure** depends on entity submissions by July 9th - **Amendment process** for algorithmic rent-fixing suggests ongoing policy refinement ### Contact Strategies for Maximum Impact **For District 5 Vacancy:** - **Early community entity engagement** crucial for forum influence - **Coordinate with established D5 organizations** for collective input - **Monitor council vacancy webpage** for real-time updates and application materials **For Ongoing Policy Issues:** - **Committee-specific outreach** more effective than general council contact - **Regional committee engagement** increasingly important for transportation, housing, and economic development issues

### Related Policies and Initiatives **Housing and Development Nexus:** - Comprehensive Plan updates connecting to **tree canopy preservation** (Rivera's constituent feedback) - **Algorithmic rent-fixing** ordinance representing tenant protection expansion - **Social housing developer loan** bridging implementation gap for voter-approved Initiative 137 **Transportation Infrastructure Coordination:** - **ST3 Transit Way Agreement** advancing West Seattle light rail - **I-5 Revive project** requiring regional coordination - **FIFA World Cup planning** demonstrating event-driven infrastructure needs ### Upcoming Milestones and Deadlines **Immediate (Next 30 Days):** - June 18: Every Child Ready Initiative final vote - June 23: Comprehensive Plan public hearing - July 2: Social housing developer loan committee discussion - July 28: District 5 appointment completion **Medium-term (30-90 Days):** - **New council member integration** and committee assignment implications - **Comprehensive Plan adoption** timeline and implementation - **Transportation levy oversight** committee establishment and operations ### Cross-cutting Themes and Implications **Democratic Legitimacy Questions:** Multiple appointed council members serving simultaneously raises questions about **electoral mandate** and **representative accountability**. **Regional Governance Integration:** Increasing emphasis on **multi-jurisdictional coordination** suggests Seattle governance becoming more regionally integrated, with implications for local autonomy and decision-making processes.

### Budget Implications and Funding Sources **Social Housing Developer Loan:** - **Bridge financing** structure pending revenue collection authorization - **Full repayment guarantee** once tax collection begins - **Implementation timeline** acceleration to meet voter expectations **Transportation Levy Oversight:** - **New committee structure** with diverse stakeholder representation - **Youth engagement** through Get Engaged program participation - **Multi-modal advisory integration** ensuring comprehensive oversight ### Procedural Insights and Next Steps **Vacancy Process Mechanics:** - **King County Elections partnership** essential for eligibility verification - **Two-meeting rule** flexibility demonstrated in social housing loan scheduling - **Executive session utilization** for process discussion (July 15th scheduled) **Amendment Procedures:** - **Floor amendment practice** (Strauss on rent-fixing) indicates expedited legislative timeline pressures - **24-hour notice preference** versus practical constraints in fast-moving legislation - **Committee process bypassing** as exception rather than standard practice ### Implementation Challenges and Opportunities **Community Engagement Scalability:** - **70,000+ person demonstration** shows civic engagement capacity - **Hybrid meeting formats** expanding accessibility while maintaining deliberative quality - **Community entity forum participation** requiring structured coordination **Regional Coordination Complexity:** - **Multiple board service** by council members creating scheduling conflicts - **Federal policy impact assessment** requiring new analytical frameworks - **Cross-jurisdictional policy alignment** becoming operational necessity rather than aspiration **Technical Infrastructure Needs:** - **Surveillance technology oversight** requiring ongoing policy refinement - **Digital equity considerations** in community engagement processes - **Data sharing agreements** between jurisdictions for policy coordination