It’s going to be a very busy week for the Council: a contentious parking vote on Monday, more debate on the proposed head tax, arguing about the Center City Streetcar, and lots of new legislation being introduced. Also, the Convention Center expansion, the Comprehensive Plan, rules for street and alley vacations, and bringing light rail to Ballard and West Seattle.
Monday morning in the weekly Council Briefing, representatives from SDOT and the City Budget Office will update the Council on the latest findings on the Center City Streetcar project that led to Mayor Durkan’s decision on Friday to place the project on hold.
Monday afternoon at the Full Council meeting, the Council will take final votes on:
- a proposed (and somewhat contentious) rewriting of the rules for off-street vehicle and bicycle parking. Council member Herbold will be re-offering an amendment that failed in committee but she hopes will gain the support of other Council members.
- the appointment of Martin Garfinkel as Director of the Office of Labor Standards.
- an ordinance that would remove the ability to provide employers with an exemption from the minimum wage for employees with disabilities.
This week’s Introduction and Referral Calendar contains several items of note:
- a concession agreement at the Golden Gardens Park Bathhouse;
- approval for SPU’s contracts with Recology and Waste Management for solid waste collection and transfer services;
- a resolution updating the Council’s own General Rules and Procedures;
- an ordinance updating the Office of Housing’s acquisition and funding policies;
- a resolution revising the procedures and criteria for updating the Seattle Comprehensive Plan;
- the project administration agreement with Sound Transit for the West Seattle and Ballard light rail extensions.
Monday morning, the Finance and Neighborhoods Committee meets in a special session to continue its discussion of a potential head tax. In particular, they are expected to discuss homeless service needs and other potential investments, and the potential tax structure.
Tuesday morning, the Government, Ethics and Technology Committee meets. On its agenda:
- a resolution establishing a work program for the Council to review and revise taxi, for-hire, and TNC regulations — including potentially establishing a minimum fare for Uber and Lyft drivers.
- the previously-mentioned update to the Council’s rules and regulations.
- the appointment of Lily Wilson-Codega as Director of the Office of Intergovernmental Relations.
Tuesday afternoon, the Sustainability and Transportation Committee meets. Its very full agenda includes:
- the agreement with Sound Transit for West Seattle and Ballard extensions to light rail;
- an update on the One Center City plan;
- a resolution updating the criteria by which the city evaluates Equitable Development Agreements;
- an update to the city’s street and alley vacation policy;
- the proposed alley vacation for the Washington State Convention Center expansion project.
Wednesday morning, the Planning, Land Use and Zoning Committee meets. The agenda for the meeting has not been published yet, but is likely to include:
- updates to the procedures and criteria for amending the Seattle Comprehensive Plan;
- several appointments to the Design Review Board.
Thursday morning, the Housing, Health, Energy, and Workers Rights Committee meets. The agenda has not yet been released, but will probably include:
- an ordinance updating Seattle City Light’s contracting procedures;
- an ordinance authorizing up to 30 buildings for an Energy Efficiency as a Service pilot program;
- the previously-mentioned ordinance amending the Office of Housing’s acquisition and funding rules.