Learn: A Proof of Concept Seattle Legislative Plain-Text Translator

Previous Legislation
Dec 2 – Dec 16, 2025

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Ordinance Passed Approved by Full Council, in executive phase

Ordinance Approves Payment of Certain Claims

Ordinance AN ORDINANCE appropriating money to pay certain claims for the week of December 1, 2025, through December 5, 2025, and ordering the payment thereof; and ratifying and confirming certain prior acts.

Next step: Awaiting Mayor signature — Mayor’s Office

Votes

Council Member Seat Sponsored Amendment Final Vote
Rob Saka District 1 Yes
Eddie Lin District 2 Yes
Joy Hollingsworth District 3 Yes
Maritza Rivera District 4 Yes
Dan Strauss District 6 Yes
Robert Kettle District 7 Yes
Alexis Mercedes Rinck At Large Yes
Sara Nelson At Large Yes

What Was Originally Proposed

The Seattle City Council bill originally proposed appropriating money to pay various claims for the week of December 1-5, 2025, totaling over $151 million. The claims included mechanical warrants, e-payables, electronic financial transactions, and payroll expenses, which were to be paid consistent with the remaining appropriations in the current budget. The bill aimed to ratify and confirm these payments, as well as certain prior acts, in accordance with relevant state laws and the city's budget.

What The Final Text Does

The Seattle City Council bill appropriates funds to pay various claims and expenses for the week of December 1, 2025, through December 5, 2025. The ordinance approves the payment of $19,998,238.69 for claims, $69,606.53 for e-payables, and $62,487,401.39 for electronic financial transactions. Additionally, it approves the payment of $68,827,369.04 for payroll expenses, including gross payrolls for the payroll ending date of December 2, 2025. The bill also ratifies and confirms certain prior acts, ensuring that these payments are consistent with the city's current budget and remaining appropriations.

Ordinance Passed Approved by Full Council, in executive phase

City Adjusts 2026 Pay Zone Structures

Ordinance AN ORDINANCE relating to City employment, commonly referred to as the Pay Zone Ordinance; adjusting the pay zone structures for 2026 for the City's discretionary pay programs; and ratifying and confirming certain prior acts.

Next step: Awaiting Mayor signature — Mayor’s Office

Votes

Council Member Seat Sponsored Amendment Final Vote
Rob Saka District 1 Yes
Eddie Lin District 2 Absent
Joy Hollingsworth District 3 Yes
Maritza Rivera District 4 Yes
Debora Juarez District 5 Yes
Dan Strauss District 6 Yes
Robert Kettle District 7 Yes
Alexis Mercedes Rinck At Large Yes
Sara Nelson At Large Yes

What Was Originally Proposed

The Seattle City Council bill, known as the Pay Zone Ordinance, originally proposed adjusting the pay zone structures for 2026 for the City's discretionary pay programs. These programs include the Accountability Pay for Executives, Manager and Strategic Advisor Compensation, Electric Utility Executive Compensation, Information Technology Professional Compensation, and Investments/Debt Director Compensation programs. The adjustments were to be based on biennial labor market analyses of selected benchmark titles as recommended by the Seattle Human Resources Director.

What The Final Text Does

The Seattle City Council bill, known as the Pay Zone Ordinance, adjusts the pay zone structures for 2026 for the City's discretionary pay programs. These programs include the Accountability Pay for Executives Program, Manager and Strategic Advisor Compensation Program, and Electric Utility Executive Compensation Program, among others. The ordinance is based on biennial labor market analyses of selected benchmark titles, as recommended by the Seattle Human Resources Director. The bill aims to update the pay zones for these programs to ensure competitive compensation for City employees.

Ordinance Passed Approved by Full Council, in executive phase

Seattle Approves Police Management Union Contract

Ordinance AN ORDINANCE relating to City employment; authorizing the execution of a collective bargaining agreement between The City of Seattle and the Seattle Police Management Association to be effective from January 1, 2024, through December 31, 2027; and ratifying and confirming certain prior acts.

Next step: Awaiting Mayor signature — Mayor’s Office

Votes

Council Member Seat Sponsored Amendment Final Vote
Rob Saka District 1 Yes
Eddie Lin District 2 Yes
Joy Hollingsworth District 3 Yes
Maritza Rivera District 4 Yes
Debora Juarez District 5 Yes
Dan Strauss District 6 Yes
Robert Kettle District 7 Yes
Alexis Mercedes Rinck At Large Yes
Sara Nelson At Large Yes

What Was Originally Proposed

The Seattle City Council bill originally proposed authorizing the execution of a collective bargaining agreement between the City of Seattle and the Seattle Police Management Association, effective from January 1, 2024, to December 31, 2027. This agreement would cover wages, hours, benefits, and other conditions of employment for employees represented by the Seattle Police Management Association. The bill aimed to formalize the tentative agreement reached through collective bargaining and would require separate legislation to provide budget appropriation authority for compensation items.

What The Final Text Does

The Seattle City Council bill authorizes the execution of a collective bargaining agreement between the City of Seattle and the Seattle Police Management Association, effective from January 1, 2024, to December 31, 2027. The agreement covers wages, hours, benefits, and other conditions of employment for employees represented by the Seattle Police Management Association. The bill also ratifies and confirms certain prior acts, acknowledging that employees continued to work after the previous agreement expired on December 31, 2023, while negotiations were ongoing. The bill paves the way for the implementation of the new agreement, with separate legislation to follow to provide budget appropriation authority for authorized compensation items.

Ordinance Passed Approved by Full Council, in executive phase

Seattle Approves Police Union Bargaining Agreement

Ordinance AN ORDINANCE relating to City employment; authorizing the execution of a collective bargaining agreement between The City of Seattle and the Seattle Police Officers' Guild; authorizing the execution of a Memorandum of Understanding between The City of Seattle and the Seattle Police Officers' Guild; and ratifying and confirming certain prior acts.

Next step: Awaiting Mayor signature — Mayor’s Office

Votes

Council Member Seat Sponsored Amendment Final Vote
Rob Saka District 1 No
Eddie Lin District 2 No
Joy Hollingsworth District 3 Yes
Maritza Rivera District 4 Yes
Debora Juarez District 5 Yes
Dan Strauss District 6 Yes
Robert Kettle District 7 Yes
Alexis Mercedes Rinck At Large No
Sara Nelson At Large Yes

What Was Originally Proposed

The Seattle City Council bill originally proposed authorizing the execution of a collective bargaining agreement between the City of Seattle and the Seattle Police Officers' Guild, which had expired on December 31, 2023. The bill also proposed authorizing a Memorandum of Understanding that addressed issues such as police recruiting and backgrounding processes, parking at Seattle Police Headquarters, and special event compensation. Additionally, the bill aimed to ratify and confirm certain prior acts related to these agreements.

What The Final Text Does

The Seattle City Council bill authorizes the execution of a collective bargaining agreement between the City of Seattle and the Seattle Police Officers' Guild, which has been negotiated to replace an expired agreement. The bill also authorizes a Memorandum of Understanding related to Seattle Police recruiting and backgrounding processes, as well as the resolution of grievances regarding parking at Seattle Police Headquarters. Additionally, the bill ratifies and confirms certain prior acts related to the collective bargaining process. The agreement comes after the previous collective bargaining agreement expired on December 31, 2023, and employees continued to work while negotiations took place.

Ordinance Passed Approved by Full Council, in executive phase

Ordinance Approves Payment of Claims for November 24-28, 2025

Ordinance AN ORDINANCE appropriating money to pay certain claims for the week of November 24, 2025, through November 28, 2025, and ordering the payment thereof; and ratifying and confirming certain prior acts.

Next step: Awaiting Mayor signature — Mayor’s Office

Votes

Council Member Seat Sponsored Amendment Final Vote
Rob Saka District 1 Yes
Eddie Lin District 2 Yes
Joy Hollingsworth District 3 Yes
Maritza Rivera District 4 Yes
Debora Juarez District 5 Yes
Dan Strauss District 6 Yes
Robert Kettle District 7 Yes
Alexis Mercedes Rinck At Large Yes
Sara Nelson At Large Yes

What Was Originally Proposed

The Seattle City Council bill originally proposed appropriating money to pay certain claims for the week of November 24, 2025, through November 28, 2025. The proposed appropriation included a total of $124,490,190.19, consisting of mechanical warrants, e-payables, and electronic financial transactions. The bill aimed to authorize and ratify these payments, ensuring they were consistent with the city's current budget and expenditure allowances.

What The Final Text Does

The Seattle City Council bill appropriates funds to pay certain claims for the week of November 24, 2025, through November 28, 2025. The total amount approved for payment is $124,490,096.19, which includes mechanical warrants, e-payables, and electronic financial transactions. The bill orders the payment of these claims, consistent with the remaining appropriations in the current budget, and also ratifies and confirms certain prior acts. The payment is made in accordance with relevant state laws, including RCW 42.24.180 and RCW 35.32A.090(1), which govern municipal budgeting and expenditures.

Ordinance Passed Approved by Full Council, in executive phase

Ordinance Approves Payment of Claims for November 17-21, 2025

Ordinance AN ORDINANCE appropriating money to pay certain claims for the week of November 17, 2025, through November 21, 2025, and ordering the payment thereof; and ratifying and confirming certain prior acts.

Next step: Awaiting Mayor signature — Mayor’s Office

Votes

Council Member Seat Sponsored Amendment Final Vote
Rob Saka District 1 Yes
Eddie Lin District 2 Yes
Joy Hollingsworth District 3 Yes
Maritza Rivera District 4 Yes
Debora Juarez District 5 Yes
Dan Strauss District 6 Yes
Robert Kettle District 7 Yes
Alexis Mercedes Rinck At Large Yes
Sara Nelson At Large Yes

What Was Originally Proposed

The Seattle City Council bill originally proposed appropriating money to pay various claims for the week of November 17-21, 2025, totaling over $136 million. The claims included payments for mechanical warrants, e-payables, electronic financial transactions, and payroll expenses. The bill aimed to approve these payments consistent with the remaining appropriations in the city's current budget as amended.

What The Final Text Does

The Seattle City Council bill appropriates money to pay various claims and salaries for the week of November 17, 2025, through November 21, 2025. The ordinance approves the payment of $23,427,735.00 for claims, $61,231.38 for e-payables, and $44,938,229.63 for electronic financial transactions. Additionally, it authorizes the payment of $68,803,864.72 for gross payrolls, including mechanical warrants, manual warrants, and direct deposits. The bill ratifies and confirms these payments, ensuring that the city's financial obligations are met.