Here’s what the Council got up to today.
This afternoon the Council confirmed the appointment of Sharon Crowley to the Seattle Renters commission. Crowley fills one of the Council-appointed positions on the Commission. Nominated by Councilmember Sawant, the chair of the Sustainability and Renters’ Rights Committee, Crowley is a long-time organizer with UAW Local 4121 and was involved in the “Tax Amazon” campaign according to the nomination packet.
The Council also approved an ordinance accepting a street easement next to Hazel Wolf School in order for the city to make pedestrian and bicycle improvements.
Finally, the Council confirmed the appointment of Dennis Gathard to the Levy to Move Seattle Oversight Committee. Nominated by Councilmember Pedersen, Gathard fills a spot reserved on the committee for a licensed bridge and structural engineer.
This morning, Councilmember Pedersen noted that USA Today is having an online competition for the best city parks in North America, and Seattle’s Gasworks Park made the list of nominees. You can vote at the link above.
Councilmember Mosqueda passed on an announcement from the City Budget Office that the final “budget book” for the 2021 adopted budget is now online.
Councilmember Herbold announced that the application deadline for the city’s hospitality workers’ COVID-19 emergency relief fund has been extended; see this site for more information.
Councilmember Juarez gave an update on the Waterfront LID: the hearing examiner has completed his final report on LID assessments, and sent it on to the city clerk. Juarez is scheduling March 2 and 6 for hearings in her committee on any appeals. Juarez said that five appeals have already been filed of individual assessments.
Juarez also noted that the “topping off” ceremony for the renovation of the Arena at Seattle Center happened on Janaury 29th.
And Juarez also announced that Medgar Evers pool will reopen on February 16th, on a by-reservation-only basis. Reservations will open on February 10th. The Queen Anne pool will be used by the Seattle Public Schools swim team, but will not be open to the public.
Councilmember Pedersen announced this morning that his next Transportation and Utilities Committee meeting will be February 17th, at which the committee will take up the updated transit service agreement with Metro for extra bus service in Seattle.
Councilmember Mosqueda said this morning that her next Finance and Housing Committee meeting will be on February 19th. Likely on the agenda:
- the confirmation of Steve Marchese as Director of the Office of Labor Standards;
- an update capital projects watchlist;
- the City Budget Office discussing any federal funding that may be available to address COVID-19 and the resulting economic meltdown.
Council member Sawant announced this morning that in addition to the two pieces of legislation her office is already drafting, an extension of the eviction moratorium and a establishing a right to counsel for tenants in eviction proceedings, she is beginning work on a third bill that would prohibit landlords from using credit checks as part of screening potential tenants. This came as a result of a letter last week from the Seattle Renters Commission urging the Council to pass such legislation. Sawant noted that Minneapolis has similar legislation, though she said that it is “not as strong as it should be.”
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