This week in Council Chambers: May 3-7, 2021

There are a lot of committee meetings this week, so let’s dive in.

Monday morning’s Council Briefing has no presentations scheduled, but will include an executive session for the Councilmembers to discuss pending litigation matters with city attorneys.

Monday afternoon’s full City Council meeting will include final votes on:

  • a resolution retiring abandoned bills and resolutions from the past couple of years;
  • licensing art from the city’s AIDS Memorial Pathway to Sound Transit for installation in the Capitol Hill light rail station;
  • appointments to the Seattle Arts Commission and the Equitable Development Initiative Advisory Board;
  • a resolution urging the federal government to enact immigration reform policies.

This week’s Introduction and Referral Calendar includes the following new bills:

  • Appointments to the Seattle Arts Commission,the EDI Advisory Board, the Community Involvement Commission, the Design Review Board, the Advisory Council on Aging and Disability Services, the Labor Standards Advisory Commission, and the Domestic Workers Standards Board;
  • A bill accepting a property transfer from Sound Transit to the city for affordable housing projects in the Rainier Valley;
  • A bill approving the city’s submission to HUD of the city’s Consolidated Plan for Housing and Community Development;
  • An annual report from the Chief of Police on certain activities within the department, including support of visiting dignitaries;
  • Two bills related to the Madison RapidRide bus line: an easement acceptance, and a grant acceptance.

Tuesday morning, the Finance and Housing Committee meets. On its agenda:

  • the appointments to the Labor Standards Advisory Board and the Domestic Workers Standard Board;
  • Discussion of proposed regulations related to employer transparency requirements for contract workers;
  • The previously-mentioned bill accepting a property transfer for affordable housing.

Tuesday afternoon, the Public Assets and Native Communities Committee meets to hold a public hearing on the proposed land-swap for the Red Barn Ranch property.

Tuesday evening, the Finance and Housing Committee will hold a public hearing on proposed uses of the city’s COVID relief funds from the federal American Rescue Plan Act.

Wednesday morning, the Transportation and Utilities Committee meets. On its agenda:

  • A bill updating the city’s stormwater code;
  • A resolution approving SPU’s updated strategic plan and rate schedule;
  • A bill enacting a spending plan for revenues from the city’s new $20 vehicle license fee;
  • The two previously-mentioned bills related to the Madison RapidRide line;
  • three bill approving SPD’s uses of technologies that could have surveillance purposes.

Wednesday afternoon, the Finance and Housing Committee meets again, and will begin deliberations on a spending plan for the first tranche of ARPA funds that the city is due to receive.

Thursday afternoon, the Select Committee on Homelessness Strategies and Investments meets. The agenda for the meeting has not yet been released, but it is expected to include:

  • an update on the city’s “shelter surge” program;
  • a program status report on SPU’s “street sinks” plan.

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