This week in Council Chambers: September 13-17, 2021

The summer recess is over, as are the holidays, and the Council starts a two-week sprint to wrap up some things before the 2022 budget process begins.

Monday morning’s weekly Council Briefing has no special presentations, but includes two executive sessions for the Councilmembers to discuss legal matters with city attorneys.

Monday afternoon’s full City Council meetings is scheduled to include final votes on:

  • a bill ending requirements for grocery employers to pay “hazard pay” from front-line workers — though given the upsurge of the Delta variant, the bill will all but certainly be held again for several more weeks.
  • The 2021 mid-year grant acceptance ordinance.
  • The 2021 mid-year budget ordinance, including re-allocations of SPD’s salary savings. There are several proposed last-minute amendments to the bill, so expect a protracted session and potentially some divisive votes.
  • An ordinance authorizing a lease of the “Tsubota property” with the Port of Seattle.
  • An ordinance authorizing land acquisition for the Terminal 5 “quiet zone.”
  • A bill authorizing SDOT to accept various grants.
  • A revised Husky Stadium Transportation Management Plan for major events.
  • Three bills adjusting SPU’s water, drainage, and wastewater rates.

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

  • The Q3/2021 city employment ordinance;
  • A bill from Councilmember Sawant requiring landlords to provide relocation assistance to tenants facing “economic displacement”;
  • The reappointment of David Jones as City Auditor;
  • A bill authorizing SPD to accept $2.1 million of grants for various programs (addressing a concern raised by Councilmembers Herbold and Mosqueda that this year’s SPD grant acceptances might be delayed until the end of the year, effectively too late for the Council to debate them).
  • An ordinance authorizing Seattle City Light to create a Skagit River habitat enhancement program;
  • Approval of SFD’s use of certain surveillance technologies.

Tuesday morning, the Public Safety and Human Services Committee meets. On its agenda:

  • a briefing and discussion of a proposed minimum wage standard for gig workers (other than Uber and Lyft drivers);
  • a Racial Equity Toolkit report on pre-filing diversion;
  • a briefing on a “LEAD scale sutdy”;
  • an ordinance prohibiting SPD from participating in training, exchanges and partnerships with certain governments.

Tuesday afternoon, the Governance and Education Committee meets. On the agenda:

Wednesday morning, the Transportation and Utilities Committee meets. The agenda for the meeting has not yet been released.

Friday morning, the Finance and Housing Committee meets. The agenda has not yet been published but is likely to include the previously-mentioned SPD grant acceptance ordinance, and possibly another revenue forecast update from the City Budget Office in advance of the release of the Mayor’s 2022 budget proposal.


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