What Was Originally ProposedCompleteness: 4/5
Faithfulness: 4/5

This ordinance proposed authorizing the Seattle City Light Department to enter into long-term agreements to acquire electric power, transmission, and ancillary services. The measure was driven by a forecasted increase in electricity demand through 2045 due to decarbonization efforts, electric vehicle adoption, and new data centers. By securing long-term power purchase agreements, the Department aimed to ensure a stable supply of renewable energy in an increasingly competitive market.

What The Final Text DoesCompleteness: 4/5
Faithfulness: 5/5

This ordinance amends the Seattle Municipal Code to authorize the Seattle City Light Department to enter into long-term power purchase agreements for electricity, transmission, and ancillary services. Specifically, the bill seeks to extend the department's authority to execute these agreements for terms of up to 240 months. This change is intended to help the city secure necessary energy resources amid rising demand driven by electric vehicles, building electrification, and new data centers. By allowing for longer contracts, the city aims to remain competitive in a tightening market for renewable energy.

What Changed From The Original

Amendment Packet

What Was Originally Proposed

This ordinance proposed placing a ballot measure before Seattle voters for the November 3, 2026, election. The measure would ask electors to approve a sales and use tax intended to fund transit and related transportation programs within the city.

What The Final Text Does

This ordinance proposes placing a ballot measure before Seattle voters in the November 3, 2026, general election to authorize a sales and use tax. The tax is intended to replace and renew the existing Seattle Transit Measure (STM), which is scheduled to expire on March 31, 2027. If approved, the funding will support transit services, transportation programs, and infrastructure projects throughout the city. Current proposals suggest increasing the tax rate from 0.15% to 0.3% to expand these services.

What Was Originally ProposedCompleteness: 4/5
Faithfulness: 5/5

This ordinance proposed the creation of a new "Forensic Digital Evidence" classification series within the Seattle Police Department. Specifically, it sought to establish two new job titles, rename two existing titles, and set corresponding rates of pay for these roles effective December 31, 2024.

What The Final Text DoesCompleteness: 3/5
Faithfulness: 5/5

This ordinance establishes a new "Forensic Digital Evidence" (FDE) classification title series and corresponding pay scales within the Seattle Police Department. Recommended by the Seattle Department of Human Resources, the bill modernizes existing job titles to more accurately reflect the current duties and professional responsibilities of staff. The new series includes four distinct job titles, each featuring a five-step salary progression to ensure appropriate compensation for employees.

What Was Originally Proposed

This ordinance proposed amending the Seattle Municipal Code to clarify and streamline the process for Council land use decisions. Specifically, it sought to exempt certain legislative environmental determinations from administrative appeals to ensure the City meets state-mandated deadlines for updating land use regulations.

What The Final Text Does

Council Bill 121215 seeks to clarify and streamline the Seattle City Council's land use decision-making process by amending the Land Use Code and State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) regulations. Specifically, the ordinance aims to remove procedural impediments to timely legislation by simplifying requirements for Type V legislative actions. A primary goal of the bill is to exempt certain SEPA procedural decisions for legislative actions from the administrative appeals process handled by the City’s Hearing Examiner. This change would align Seattle's practices with other regional jurisdictions, such as King County and Bellevue, to ensure land use regulations can be updated more efficiently.

What Was Originally ProposedCompleteness: 5/5
Faithfulness: 5/5

This bill proposed temporary changes to Seattle's land use and zoning laws to streamline the housing development process by reducing Design Review requirements. Specifically, it sought to exempt certain affordable housing projects from Design Review and allow other housing developments to opt for a simpler administrative review process rather than a full review.

What The Final Text DoesCompleteness: 4/5
Faithfulness: 5/5

This ordinance re-enacts temporary land use regulations for six months to streamline the development of housing in Seattle. It exempts housing projects that meet Mandatory Housing Affordability requirements via on-site units from Design Review and allows other projects subject to Full Design Review to opt for a simplified Administrative process instead. Overall, the bill temporarily suspends mandatory design review in favor of a voluntary system to accelerate the production of affordable housing.

What Was Originally Proposed

This ordinance proposes updates to Seattle City Light’s retail rate schedules and service connections to manage growing electricity demand from electrification. Key changes include the creation of a specific customer class and service conditions for large-load data centers, as well as modifications to residential rate assistance and the rate stabilization account. These measures aim to address the rising costs and volatility associated with procuring carbon-free power resources.

What The Final Text Does

This ordinance establishes new retail electricity rate schedules for Seattle City Light for the years 2027 and 2028 to address rising costs from inflation, aging infrastructure, and the procurement of carbon-free power. A key feature of the bill is the creation of a new customer class and specific service conditions for data centers that introduce large new electricity loads. Additionally, the legislation modifies customer charges for service connections, updates eligibility requirements for residential rate assistance, and augments the rate stabilization account mechanism.

What Was Originally ProposedCompleteness: 4/5
Faithfulness: 4/5

This ordinance proposed authorizing the Seattle City Light Department to enter into long-term agreements to acquire electric power, transmission, and ancillary services. The measure was driven by a forecasted increase in electricity demand through 2045 due to decarbonization efforts, electric vehicle adoption, and new data centers. By securing long-term power purchase agreements, the Department aimed to ensure a stable supply of renewable energy in an increasingly competitive market.

What The Final Text DoesCompleteness: 4/5
Faithfulness: 5/5

This ordinance amends the Seattle Municipal Code to authorize the Seattle City Light Department to enter into long-term power purchase agreements for electricity, transmission, and ancillary services. Specifically, the bill seeks to extend the department's authority to execute these agreements for terms of up to 240 months. This change is intended to help the city secure necessary energy resources amid rising demand driven by electric vehicles, building electrification, and new data centers. By allowing for longer contracts, the city aims to remain competitive in a tightening market for renewable energy.

What Changed From The Original

Housing Funding Policy Updates

The amendment establishes detailed guidelines for supplemental funding in the Housing Funding Policies, including the use of debt restructure stabilization loans and funding adjustments to support affordable housing development. It requires the Office of Housing to prioritize new production of affordable rental developments and balance remaining funds between preservation activities and supplemental funding for debt restructuring based on need. The amendment also provides discretion to the Office of Housing to approve supplemental funding awards outside of the regular Notice of Funding Availability process in emergency or time-sensitive situations.

What Was Originally Proposed

This ordinance proposes the adoption of the Administrative and Financial Plan and the associated Housing Funding Policies for the 2023 Seattle Housing Levy for the 2026-2028 program years. Additionally, it authorizes the Director of Housing to manage past and future housing loans and contracts to support low-income households.

What The Final Text Does

This ordinance adopts the Administrative and Financial Plan (A&F Plan) and the Housing Funding Policies for program years 2026-2028 to guide the implementation of the 2023 Seattle Housing Levy. These documents establish the priorities, guidelines, and technical frameworks for using levy funds and other city sources to provide and produce affordable housing for low-income households. Additionally, the bill authorizes the Director of Housing to manage related loans and contracts and ratifies previous administrative actions.

What Was Originally Proposed

This ordinance proposes to define the operations and duties of the Community Assisted Response and Engagement (CARE) Department and its Community Crisis Responder (CCR) team. It seeks to formalize the CCR team's role as behavioral health professionals who provide support to people in crisis as part of a diversified public safety response. To achieve this, the bill proposes amending and adding specific sections to the Seattle Municipal Code.

What The Final Text Does

This ordinance updates the Seattle Municipal Code to formalize the operations and duties of the Community Assisted Response and Engagement (CARE) Department. Specifically, it defines the role and functions of the Community Crisis Responder (CCR) team as part of the city's diversified public safety response. By amending and adding sections to the Municipal Code, the bill ensures the CARE Department's responsibilities—including the operation of the 9-1-1 Communications Center—are clearly established alongside the police and fire departments.

What Was Originally ProposedCompleteness: 4/5
Faithfulness: 5/5

This ordinance proposed amending the Seattle Municipal Code to grant the Director of Transportation the authority to close public streets for public safety reasons, expanding a power previously limited to alleys. The proposal was specifically driven by a rise in group-based violence and shootings in neighborhoods off Aurora Ave N, where residents had already begun blocking streets themselves to increase safety.

What The Final Text DoesCompleteness: 5/5
Faithfulness: 5/5

This ordinance expands the authority of the Director of Transportation to close public streets for the purpose of maintaining or enhancing public safety. Previously, under Section 11.16.125 of the Seattle Municipal Code, this authority was limited only to the closure of alleys. The legislation was prompted by a rise in group-based and gun violence in the North Aurora corridor. If passed by a 3/4 vote of the City Council, the ordinance would take effect immediately as an emergency measure.

What Changed From The Original

Corrects Property Legal Description

This amendment establishes a corrected legal description of the property at 2929 27th Ave South, which is being developed, by updating Attachment 1 to the Ordinance. It requires that the property's full legal description, including parcel numbers and boundaries, be accurately reflected in the attachment. The amendment prohibits any discrepancies in the property's description by providing a detailed and precise outline of the parcel boundaries and exceptions.

What Was Originally Proposed

This ordinance proposed granting a ground lease for City-owned property at 2929 27th Ave South to MBTOD Phase One LLLP, an affiliate of Mercy Housing Northwest and El Centro de la Raza. The goal of the lease was to facilitate the development of affordable housing and commercial space dedicated to childcare and early learning services.

What The Final Text Does

This ordinance authorizes the Seattle Office of Housing to grant a 99-year ground lease for city-owned property located at 2929 27th Ave South to MBTOD Phase One LLLP, an affiliate of Mercy Housing Northwest and El Centro de la Raza. The lease is proposed for a nominal rent of $1 per year to facilitate the development of a mixed-use project. This project is intended to provide affordable housing as well as commercial space dedicated to early learning and childcare centers.

What Was Originally Proposed

This bill proposed placing acquired real property in the Montlake neighborhood under the jurisdiction of the Seattle Office of Housing. It authorized the Office of Housing to select a developer through a competitive bidding process to transform the vacant land into affordable homeownership opportunities for low- and moderate-income households.

What The Final Text Does

This ordinance authorizes the Seattle Office of Housing (OH) to acquire a property in the Montlake neighborhood from the Washington State Department of Transportation for $6,050,000. The goal of the acquisition is to develop at least 50 permanently affordable owner-occupied homes for low- and moderate-income households. To achieve this, the bill grants the OH the authority to launch a competitive request for proposals to select a preferred developer and execute the necessary land transfer contracts.

What Was Originally Proposed

This ordinance proposed that the Office of Housing acquire two parcels of land in Seattle's Central Area to develop affordable homeownership units. It authorized the Director of the Office of Housing to select a developer through a request for proposals and execute the necessary land transfer documents.

What The Final Text Does

This ordinance authorizes the Seattle Office of Housing to acquire two parcels of land in the Central Area to be used for the development of affordable homeownership units. It places these properties under the jurisdiction of the Office of Housing and empowers the Director to initiate a competitive Request for Proposals (RFP) process to select a developer. Once a developer is chosen, the Director is authorized to execute the necessary contracts and deeds to transfer the land for construction.

What Was Originally ProposedCompleteness: 5/5
Faithfulness: 5/5

This ordinance proposed the appropriation of funds to pay various city claims and electronic transactions totaling approximately $51 million for the week of June 15–19, 2026. Additionally, it sought approval for approximately $73.8 million to cover gross payroll expenses for the period ending June 16, 2026.

What The Final Text DoesCompleteness: 5/5
Faithfulness: 5/5

This ordinance authorizes the City of Seattle to pay various claims and payroll expenses for the week of June 15, 2026, through June 19, 2026. It approves the disbursement of approximately $51.2 million for general claims, e-payables, and electronic financial transactions. Additionally, it allocates $73,879,988.50 from the City General Salary Fund to cover gross payroll for the period ending June 16, 2026.