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 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 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 Was Originally Proposed

This ordinance proposed amending the 2025 Budget and the 2025-2030 Capital Improvement Program to address unforeseen costs. Specifically, it sought to increase appropriations by $8,066,027 across various departments, including the Department of Human Resources and the Ethics and Elections Commission.

What The Final Text Does

This ordinance amends the 2025 Adopted Budget and the 2025-2030 Capital Improvement Program to address unforeseen costs. Specifically, it increases appropriations to various city departments by a total of $8,066,027 to cover expenses that were not initially accounted for. By providing this retroactive budget authority, the bill allows the City to finalize its accounting process and cover spending that exceeded previous budget limits.

What Was Originally Proposed

This ordinance proposed amending the 2026 Budget and the 2026-2031 Capital Improvement Program to address unforeseen costs and expenses. Specifically, it sought to increase appropriations by $138,059,219 across various city departments and funds.

What The Final Text Does

This ordinance amends the 2026 Budget to re-appropriate approximately $138 million in unexpended non-capital funds from the 2025 budget. By continuing these funds, the bill prevents them from lapsing at the end of the fiscal year, allowing the city to complete initiatives and projects that were not fully utilized. The legislation redistributes these funds across various city departments and budget control levels to cover necessary costs and expenses.

What Was Originally Proposed

This bill proposed authorizing Seattle City Light to enter into a five-year agreement with Washington State Ferries to implement system improvements for the electrification of Pier 48 and the Seattle Terminal (Colman Dock). The project involves installing vessel charging systems and submersible cables to support hybrid electric ferries, aiming to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

What The Final Text Does

This ordinance authorizes Seattle City Light to enter into a five-year agreement with Washington State Ferries to implement the Seattle Terminal (Colman Dock) Electrification Project. The project involves constructing system improvements and installing two new electrical services totaling 30 megawatts to support the charging of hybrid-electric ferries. These upgrades are part of a broader effort to modernize the ferry fleet and reduce emissions in alignment with state goals to be emissions-free by 2050. Additionally, the bill authorizes the negotiation and execution of a subsequent operations agreement.

What Was Originally Proposed

This bill proposed authorizing the Mayor to enter into an amendment to an existing agreement with King County regarding the Conservation Futures Levy. Specifically, it sought to allow the city to deposit 2025 and 2026 levy allocations into the Park and Recreation Fund to be used for open space acquisition projects.

What The Final Text Does

This ordinance authorizes the Mayor or their designee to enter into Amendment 6 of an interlocal agreement with King County to secure funding for open space acquisition projects. It allows the City of Seattle to receive up to $7,248,000 from the King County Conservation Futures Levy for the 2025 and 2026 allocation periods. These funds will be deposited into the City's Park and Recreation Fund to support the purchase of natural resource lands and open spaces.

What Was Originally Proposed

This ordinance proposed granting the Superintendent of Seattle Parks and Recreation the authority to identify and acquire real property in West Seattle to permanently preserve and expand the Delridge Native Forest. This included "blanket authority" for future acquisitions, specifically including land related to Sound Transit’s West Seattle Link Extension to offset expected greenspace conversions.

What The Final Text Does

This ordinance authorizes the Superintendent of Seattle Parks and Recreation to identify, negotiate, and acquire real property and property rights in West Seattle's Delridge neighborhood. The primary goal is the permanent preservation and expansion of the Delridge Native Forest to support ecological integrity and climate resilience. Notably, the bill grants "blanket authority" for future acquisitions, including land related to Sound Transit’s West Seattle Link Extension to offset expected greenspace conversions. Finally, it empowers the Superintendent to execute the necessary purchase and sale agreements and escrow documents as funding becomes available.

What Was Originally Proposed

This ordinance proposed the appropriation of funds to pay various city claims for the week of June 8 through June 12, 2026. Specifically, it authorized payments totaling over $92 million via mechanical warrants, e-payables, and electronic financial transactions.

What The Final Text Does

This ordinance authorizes the City of Seattle to pay approximately $92 million in claims and expenditures for the week of June 8, 2026, through June 12, 2026. The total includes $68.88 million in electronic financial transactions, $23.14 million in mechanical warrants, and roughly $26,817 in e-payables. This legislative action is required by state law (RCW 42.24.180) to ensure that payroll and financial obligations are paid in accordance with the current city budget.

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 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 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 Proposed

This ordinance proposed authorizing the General Manager and CEO of Seattle Public Utilities to enter into a contract with Waste Management of Washington, Inc. The goal was to secure future recycling processing services for the City of Seattle following a competitive bidding process.

What The Final Text Does

This ordinance authorizes the General Manager and CEO of Seattle Public Utilities to enter into a contract with Waste Management of Washington, Inc. for the city's recycling processing services. This new agreement follows a Request for Proposals process initiated in April 2025 to secure future services. The move is intended to replace the current contract with Rabanco, Ltd., which is scheduled to expire on March 31, 2027.

What Was Originally Proposed

This ordinance proposed the appropriation of funds to pay various city claims and payroll for the week of June 1 through June 5, 2026. Specifically, it authorized over $132 million for general claims and electronic transactions, as well as approximately $73.5 million for gross payroll.

What The Final Text Does

This ordinance authorizes the appropriation of funds to pay various city claims and payroll expenses for the week of June 1, 2026, through June 5, 2026. Specifically, it approves over $132 million for general claims, e-payables, and electronic financial transactions. Additionally, it allocates $73,568,854.56 from the City General Salary Fund to cover gross payroll for the period ending June 2, 2026.

What Was Originally Proposed

This ordinance proposed updating the income thresholds for Seattle's Utility Discount Program (UDP) to make it more accessible. Specifically, it aimed to align the program with the Clean Energy Transformation Act by expanding eligibility to households earning up to 80 percent of the area median income, rather than the previous limit of 70 percent of the state median income.

What The Final Text Does

This ordinance amends the income eligibility thresholds for Seattle's Utility Discount Program (UDP) to make the program more accessible to low-income households. By adjusting these thresholds, the bill aims to expand the number of residents who qualify for significant discounts on water, wastewater, drainage, solid waste, and electric utility services. These changes support the City’s Anti-Displacement Action Plan and align with the requirements of Washington’s Clean Energy Transformation Act.

What Changed From The Original

Data Center Expansion Allowed

The amendment establishes a moratorium on new data centers in Seattle, but allows existing data centers to expand their capacity by up to 20 Megavolt-Amperes (MVA) without being subject to the moratorium. This exemption enables existing facilities to grow and support the data needs of local businesses, government entities, and institutions. The amendment requires that the existing facility be operating on the effective date of the ordinance and meet the definition of a data center to be eligible for the exemption.

Adds Sustainability Office to Data Center Workplan

The amendment establishes the Office of Sustainability and Environment as the lead agency overseeing a workplan to analyze the impacts of data centers in Seattle. It requires the Office of Sustainability and Environment to develop a framework for voluntary data center community benefits agreements by February 1, 2027, in consultation with various stakeholders. This framework may include voluntary commitments or be incorporated into land use permitting requirements, aiming to address economic and environmental concerns related to data centers.

What Was Originally Proposed

This bill proposed establishing a formal definition for data centers and implementing an immediate moratorium on all applications to build, expand, or convert buildings into data centers. The proposal was driven by concerns that the high energy and water demands of these facilities could negatively impact Seattle's infrastructure, environment, and utility reliability.

What The Final Text Does

This ordinance establishes a new legal definition for data centers and imposes a one-year moratorium on the filing, processing, and approval of applications for their establishment, expansion, or change of use. The measure aims to prevent potential adverse impacts on the city's land use, public health, and critical energy and water infrastructure. During this period, the City Council has directed various municipal departments to execute a work plan to analyze the economic and environmental effects of data centers and develop mitigating regulations. Because it was passed by a 3/4 vote, the ordinance is declared an emergency and takes effect immediately.

What Changed From The Original

Seattle Affordable Housing Expansion

There is no amendment text provided to summarize.

What Was Originally Proposed

This bill proposed extending the expiration date of a previously approved contract rezone and Property Use and Development Agreement (PUDA) for a property at 5201 Rainier Avenue South. The extension was requested by the developers, Eagle Rock Ventures and 5201 Rainier, LLC, because permitting delays and economic conditions made the project's original timeline infeasible.

What The Final Text Does

This ordinance extends the term of a contract rezone for the property located at 5201 Rainier Avenue South by two years. It also accepts an amended Property Use and Development Agreement (PUDA) between the City of Seattle and the property owners, Eagle Rock Ventures and 5201 Rainier, LLC. The extension is intended to allow the developers more time to complete the project following delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, permitting issues, and macroeconomic conditions.

What Was Originally Proposed

This ordinance proposed the appropriation of funds to pay various city claims and electronic financial transactions for the week of May 25 through May 29, 2026. Specifically, it authorized payments totaling over $143 million via mechanical warrants, e-payables, and electronic financial transfers.

What The Final Text Does

This ordinance authorizes the City of Seattle to pay various claims and expenditures incurred during the week of May 25, 2026, through May 29, 2026. In total, the bill approves the payment of $143,780,884.29, which covers payroll expenses, bills, and other financial obligations. These funds are distributed across electronic financial transactions (EFT), mechanical warrants, and e-payables.

What Was Originally Proposed

This ordinance proposed that Seattle City Light accept several deeds to various properties in King and Skagit Counties to be used for salmonid habitat protection. It further authorized the use of Salmon Recovery Funding Board grants for these acquisitions and ratified the transfer of several of these properties to the State of Washington for conservation purposes.

What The Final Text Does

This ordinance authorizes Seattle City Light to acquire several properties in King and Skagit Counties through various deeds to protect salmonid habitats. It ratifies the use of Salmon Recovery Funding Board grants to fund these acquisitions and places the lands under the jurisdiction of the City Light Department. Finally, the bill declares certain property rights as surplus and ratifies the transfer of Deeds of Right for several of these properties to the State of Washington for ongoing salmon recovery and conservation purposes.

What Was Originally Proposed

This ordinance proposed authorizing the General Manager and CEO of Seattle City Light to grant an easement to Puget Sound Energy over a portion of city-owned property in Bellevue. In exchange for this easement, the City of Seattle would accept payment based on the property's fair market value.

What The Final Text Does

This ordinance authorizes the General Manager and CEO of Seattle City Light to grant a perpetual, non-exclusive easement to Puget Sound Energy (PSE) for a portion of city-owned property in Bellevue, Washington. The easement, covering approximately 900 square feet, allows PSE to install, construct, and maintain underground gas transmission and distribution facilities to power a generator. In exchange for this access, the City of Seattle will accept payment based on the fair market value of the easement.

What Was Originally Proposed

This bill proposed authorizing the City Light Department to grant an easement for a small portion of its property to King County. The easement would allow the county to install and maintain ADA curb ramps and sidewalk improvements at 68th Ave South and South 124th St in exchange for fair market value payment.

What The Final Text Does

This ordinance authorizes the Seattle City Light Department to grant a 65-square-foot easement to King County on a property located near 68th Ave S in Skyway. The easement allows the county to install and maintain ADA-compliant curb ramps and sidewalk improvements as part of a roadway project. In exchange for this access, the City of Seattle will accept payment for the fair market value of the easement.

What Was Originally Proposed

This ordinance proposed approving an application to classify a property located at 4807 SW 54th Street under the King County Public Benefit Rating System. This classification would allow the property, owned by the nonprofit organization GROW, to be taxed based on its current use as open space rather than its "highest and best use."

What The Final Text Does

This ordinance approves an application for "current use" taxation for a 0.13-acre property located at 4807 SW 54th Street, known as Beyer's Bulldog Garden. By classifying the land under the King County Public Benefit Rating System (PBRS), the property will be taxed based on its actual use as a community garden rather than its "highest and best use" market value. This tax incentive is designed to encourage the nonprofit organization GROW, Inc. to maintain the site as a permanent open space for the community.