City Council Regular Meeting · Monday, February 23, 2026 · City Council Digest

3. SPECIAL BUSINESS

Issaquah Youth Advisory Board Update ID 1963

10 min · packet pp.5–19

▶ Watch from 1:03 Open packet at p.5 ↗

Staff report:

This presentation is an informational update from the Executive Director of the 4th of July Commission for the period of December 2025 to February 2026. May 21st and August 11th. There is no

Fourth of July Commission Update ID 1980

15 min

▶ Watch from 3:54

5. CONSENT CALENDAR

Accounts: Payables and Payroll of Feb. 23, 2026, $7,926,474.72 ID 1937

Carried 6-0

Approve · packet pp.21–32

Topics: Budget

▶ Watch from 18:14 Open packet at p.21 ↗

Staff report:

Finance Department P.O. Box 1307 Issaquah, WA 98027 PH: 425-837-3050 www.issaquahwa.gov

Roll call:

Moved by Council President de Michele · seconded by Deputy Council President Marts

In favor: Paul Adair, Barbara de Michele (Attended Virtually), Kelly Jiang, Russell Joe, Tola Marts, Lindsey Walsh

Minutes: City Council Regular Meeting, Feb. 2, 2026

Carried 6-0

Approve · packet pp.33–37

▶ Watch from 18:22 Open packet at p.33 ↗

Staff report:

CONSENT CALENDAR b) 02-02-26 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes Page (0000) CITY OF ISSAQUAH City Council Regular Meeting 7:00 PM Council Chambers, 135 E. February 2, 2026 MINUTES Sunset Way, Issaquah WA

Roll call:

Moved by Council President de Michele · seconded by Deputy Council President Marts

In favor: Paul Adair, Barbara de Michele (Attended Virtually), Kelly Jiang, Russell Joe, Tola Marts, Lindsey Walsh

Informational Update: Economic Vitality Commission Annual Report ID 1962

Carried 6-0

Receive Report · packet pp.39–40

Topics: Economic Development

▶ Watch from 18:30 Open packet at p.39 ↗

Staff report:

The Economic Vitality Commission (EVC) provides valuable expertise to the Mayor and City Council, supporting efforts to enhance and facilitate economic development within the City. Additionally, the EVC serves as a platform for City staff to stay informed about business trends and address concerns raised by the business community, improving City services for businesses.

Roll call:

Moved by Council President de Michele · seconded by Deputy Council President Marts

In favor: Paul Adair, Barbara de Michele (Attended Virtually), Kelly Jiang, Russell Joe, Tola Marts, Lindsey Walsh

Change Order for Energy Services Proposal for Energy Efficiency Upgrades at Public Works AB 9116

Carried 6-0

Authorize · packet pp.41–65

Topics: Climate

▶ Watch from 18:38 Open packet at p.41 ↗

Staff report:

On October 6, 2025, the City Council approved the amendment to the City’s interagency agreement with the Washington State Department of Enterprise Services approving the ESP for Public Works Energy Efficiency improvements (FC 056) in the amount of $195,743.69 (including sales tax) (AB 9080). The City Council approved the Department of Enterprise Services Interagency Agreement on July 10, 2023 in AB 8639 which allows the City to pursue this contracting method for energy projects. The work performed under the contract includes:  Building envelope weatherization across the Public Works campus  Insulation removal, repair, and installation at the Public Works Shops building

Roll call:

Moved by Council President de Michele · seconded by Deputy Council President Marts

In favor: Paul Adair, Barbara de Michele (Attended Virtually), Kelly Jiang, Russell Joe, Tola Marts, Lindsey Walsh

Olde Town Targeted Drainage Study Contract Amendment No. 1 (Phase II) AB 9138

Carried 6-0

Authorize · packet pp.67–77

Topics: Land UseWater

▶ Watch from 18:46 Open packet at p.67 ↗

Staff report:

City Attorney Review Rachel Bender Turpin City Attorney Review Date: February 19, 2026

Roll call:

Moved by Council President de Michele · seconded by Deputy Council President Marts

In favor: Paul Adair, Barbara de Michele (Attended Virtually), Kelly Jiang, Russell Joe, Tola Marts, Lindsey Walsh

Inclusive Housing Investment Pool (IHIP) Funding Recommendation AB 9140

Carried 6-0

Authorize Funding · packet pp.79–105

Topics: HousingBudget

Previously discussed: City Council Regular Meeting · Dec 4, 2023

▶ Watch from 18:54 Open packet at p.79 ↗

Staff report:

The Inclusive Housing Investment Pool (IHIP) policy document was adopted by City Council on December 4, 2023 (AB 8706). The policy guides the investment from IHIP for affordable housing, with the following priorities:  Preservation of existing affordable housing  Transit-oriented development  Community-based affordable housing projects

Roll call:

Moved by Council President de Michele · seconded by Deputy Council President Marts

In favor: Paul Adair, Barbara de Michele (Attended Virtually), Kelly Jiang, Russell Joe, Tola Marts, Lindsey Walsh

Franchise Agreement - NFC Northwest, LLC AB 9144

Carried 6-0

Introduce · packet pp.107–130

▶ Watch from 19:02 Open packet at p.107 ↗

Staff report:

NFC Northwest, LLC owns a 51% share and Ziply Pacific Fiber, LCC (a current franchisee in the City) owns a 49% share in their parent company, Northwest Fiber, LLC.

Roll call:

Moved by Council President de Michele · seconded by Deputy Council President Marts

In favor: Paul Adair, Barbara de Michele (Attended Virtually), Kelly Jiang, Russell Joe, Tola Marts, Lindsey Walsh

Building Permit Plan Review Contracts AB 9148

Carried 6-0

Authorize · packet pp.131–180

Topics: Land Use

▶ Watch from 19:10 Open packet at p.131 ↗

Staff report:

Kolke Consulting Group has provided plan review services for complex projects to the City of Issaquah in the past and was selected again following a Request for Proposals (RFP) in 2022-2023. Other consultants selected during this process include BHC and SafeBuilt. Crystal Kolke, President of Kolke Consulting Group, is a premier building code expert in the Pacific Northwest; she is frequently consulted by other jurisdictions and occasionally provides code revisions to the State Building Code Council and the International Code Council (ICC). CPD staff has been fully engaged with review of hundreds of townhome projects, tenant improvements, single and multi- family homes and other smaller, commercial projects as well as phone and email inquiries and staffing an on-line code consultation system. Kolke Consulting Group has been tasked with larger, more time-consuming and complex projects…

Roll call:

Moved by Council President de Michele · seconded by Deputy Council President Marts

In favor: Paul Adair, Barbara de Michele (Attended Virtually), Kelly Jiang, Russell Joe, Tola Marts, Lindsey Walsh

6. REGULAR BUSINESS

Amendments to Council Rules of Procedure Appoint Committee AB 9137

Carried 6-0

30 min · packet pp.181–242

Topics: Boards & Commissions

▶ Watch from 19:18 Open packet at p.181 ↗

Staff report:

The City's code empowers the City Council to adopt Rules of Procedure.

Roll call:

Moved by Deputy Council President Marts · seconded by Councilmember Walsh

In favor: Adair, de Michele, Jiang, Joe, Marts, Walsh

9. GOOD OF THE ORDER

Upcoming Council Meetings

▶ Watch from 42:53

10. EXECUTIVE SESSION

10a

Executive Session - Property Acquisition per RCW 42.30.110(1)(b) ID 1984

20 min

▶ Watch from 41:14

11. OPEN SESSION

11a

Potential Action following Executive Session

1287 segments .txt ↗

0:11 ↗ Welcome everyone. I'd like to call the

0:13 ↗ February 23rd city council meeting to

0:16 ↗ order. Council President D. Michelle is

0:18 ↗ joining us remotely and council member

0:20 ↗ Nichols is excused. For those curious

0:23 ↗ about the presence of marshmallow fluff,

0:25 ↗ this is victory fluff you're seeing on

0:27 ↗ the dis. We will get to this later in

0:29 ↗ the meeting, but yes, 12 Aqua won its

0:31 ↗ bet with the city of Somerville in

0:33 ↗ Massachusetts, and we're very proud of

0:35 ↗ our fluff. Let's open tonight with the

0:37 ↗ pledge of allegiance. I welcome you to

0:38 ↗ join me in the pledge of allegiance.

0:42 ↗ >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the

0:44 ↗ United States of America, and to the

0:47 ↗ republic for which it stands, one nation

0:50 ↗ under God, indivisible, with liberty and

0:53 ↗ justice for all.

0:58 ↗ And for proclamations tonight, we can

1:00 ↗ proclaim that there are no

1:01 ↗ proclamations, which will move us

1:03 ↗ straight to special business. ID1963 is

1:06 ↗ quite youth advisory board update, is

1:08 ↗ being delayed to a future council

1:10 ↗ meeting, which gives us our next item of

1:12 ↗ business, IB1980, the 4th of July

1:14 ↗ commission update. I'd like to invite

1:16 ↗ the Fourth of July commission executive

1:17 ↗ director Jamie Boom to present this

1:19 ↗ item.

1:40 ↗ I learned from the last time.

2:01 ↗ Yeah. Okay. Good evening. Uh my name is

2:04 ↗ Janie Bub and I am the executive

2:06 ↗ director of the Fourth of July

2:07 ↗ Commission. Thank you, mayor, and

2:10 ↗ council members for having me tonight. I

2:12 ↗ am presenting to inform the city council

2:15 ↗ of updates regarding the 4th of July

2:16 ↗ commission.

2:23 ↗ You can do the next one. Thank you.

2:27 ↗ There we go. Okay. So, some background.

2:29 ↗ To celebrate Isiqua 250 and foster and

2:32 ↗ strengthen community pride, the

2:34 ↗ commission has decided to turn what

2:35 ↗ normally is a one-day event into a 3-day

2:38 ↗ event.

2:40 ↗ The Chalk Art Festival, which is

2:41 ↗ normally at the end of July, has been

2:44 ↗ moved to Thursday, July 2nd. And we're

2:46 ↗ adding a new event on Friday, July 3rd,

2:49 ↗ which I'll mention in just a second. And

2:50 ↗ we're continuing with Isiqua's tradition

2:52 ↗ of the Fourth of July parade on

2:54 ↗ Saturday, July 4th.

3:00 ↗ We are also doing an art project um and

3:02 ↗ this is to commemorate the 250th and we

3:05 ↗ have commissioned a glass mosaic artist

3:07 ↗ Cheryl Smith who has created other

3:09 ↗ beautiful pieces around Isiqua. As you

3:12 ↗ can see here there are three pieces

3:14 ↗ demonstrated.

3:15 ↗ Um she will create a mosaic experience

3:17 ↗ that will engage the community through

3:19 ↗ several outreach events uh around

3:21 ↗ Isiqua. And we're hoping to in that the

3:24 ↗ inviting of participation truly helps us

3:26 ↗ create a piece that represents Isiqua's

3:29 ↗ people and place to highlight the 250th.

3:33 ↗ And the artwork will then be placed in a

3:34 ↗ location that is viewable by the public

3:36 ↗ for years to come and will be determined

3:39 ↗ later.

3:44 ↗ The Chalk Art Festival. This event will

3:46 ↗ kick off the weekend of festivities.

3:48 ↗ People of all ages come together to

3:50 ↗ express creativity by drawing with

3:52 ↗ sidewalk chalk on the pavement around

3:54 ↗ the community center. And we decided to

3:57 ↗ move this event to encourage the

3:59 ↗ community to stay locally and stay in

4:01 ↗ Isiqua and to enjoy a weekend of outdoor

4:04 ↗ fun. And we're hoping that this will

4:06 ↗ create a buzz around the 4th of July and

4:09 ↗ really keep people here.

4:15 ↗ The wagon maker space. This is a new

4:17 ↗ event for this year and something that

4:18 ↗ I'm personally very excited about. Um,

4:21 ↗ we wanted to create a new element for

4:23 ↗ the parade that encourages participate

4:26 ↗ participation and is sustainable for

4:29 ↗ future parades. This is instead of

4:31 ↗ making a vehicular float, we're

4:34 ↗ promoting a handheld pole wagon like

4:36 ↗ what you would see a family taking to

4:38 ↗ the beach.

4:40 ↗ We are hoping that these wagons reduce

4:43 ↗ the barrier for participation and we

4:46 ↗ invite all individuals, businesses,

4:48 ↗ organizations, companies, nonprofits to

4:51 ↗ decorate a wagon representing their

4:52 ↗ personal history and is aqua 250. The

4:56 ↗ wagon maker space event is a place for

4:58 ↗ people to come to work on their wagons,

5:00 ↗ meet the judges for the wagon contest,

5:02 ↗ and network and socialize with fellow

5:04 ↗ community members. This will either be

5:07 ↗ at the senior center or community

5:08 ↗ center. And that's also going to be

5:10 ↗ determined later. And on the next slide

5:12 ↗ here, you can see um photos and examples

5:15 ↗ of what other cities have done for

5:18 ↗ different events, different parades, but

5:20 ↗ around the uh country to really engage

5:23 ↗ the community and get in this case a lot

5:25 ↗ of kiddos involved.

5:30 ↗ For the 4th of July day of um we are

5:33 ↗ expanding what we have offered in the

5:35 ↗ past. It's very exciting that the parks

5:37 ↗ department is um allowing the farmers

5:40 ↗ market to be on that same day and to be

5:42 ↗ um moved to Memorial Field. So, the

5:45 ↗ market and the vendors, food vendors

5:47 ↗ will be in Memorial Field that day. The

5:50 ↗ parade will be its usual time 10 to

5:52 ↗ 11:00 um starting at Confluence Park and

5:54 ↗ then ending at Pedestrian Park. This is

5:56 ↗ a slightly longer route than last year

5:59 ↗ and we're hoping to have many more

6:00 ↗ participants and elements in the parade

6:02 ↗ this year. um continuing with the idea

6:05 ↗ of a band. So having a band, horses, the

6:08 ↗ wagons I had mentioned, and then other

6:10 ↗ performers and other elements. Uh there

6:12 ↗ will also be a family fun event and

6:14 ↗ picnic again after the parade and the

6:16 ↗ programming for that is still being

6:18 ↗ determined. And then um later in the

6:21 ↗ evening at Vasa Park, they will be

6:22 ↗ hosting their illuminating hope

6:24 ↗ fireworks show which is free to the

6:26 ↗ public in Belleview.

6:31 ↗ So for sponsorships, we are looking for

6:33 ↗ sponsorships this year. We have four

6:35 ↗ levels available. We'll be reaching out

6:37 ↗ to the community to do this starting in

6:39 ↗ March. And the lowest level is at 250

6:42 ↗ and the highest is at 5,000. And then

6:45 ↗ today we slightly changed the mid

6:47 ↗ levels. So um or we slightly changed the

6:50 ↗ gold and platinum. So gold is now 1,000

6:52 ↗ and then platinum is now 5,000 instead

6:54 ↗ of 10,000. So if you had seen the

6:56 ↗ presentation earlier, note those

6:58 ↗ changes, please.

7:02 ↗ Then participation. So we're looking for

7:05 ↗ um parade entries, we're looking for

7:07 ↗ wagon entries, we're looking for

7:08 ↗ volunteers Thursday, Friday, and

7:11 ↗ Saturday all three days. And then of

7:13 ↗ course sponsors. So many different ways

7:15 ↗ to participate.

7:20 ↗ And what's next? Starting in March, we

7:21 ↗ are organizing meetings with all the

7:23 ↗ departments and major players to stay on

7:25 ↗ top of all the logistics and the

7:27 ↗ details. And we will start reaching out

7:29 ↗ to sponsors in March. We're hoping to

7:31 ↗ finalize our budget in March as well.

7:34 ↗ And then the wagon and parade entries

7:36 ↗ will open in April.

7:38 ↗ And there's still many details to work

7:39 ↗ out and there's still a lot of um

7:41 ↗ different logistics, but we're really

7:42 ↗ excited to have turned this one-day

7:44 ↗ event into a 3-day event to particularly

7:47 ↗ celebrate the 250th year of United

7:50 ↗ States. So then is aqua.

7:52 ↗ >> Uh thank you and if you have any

7:53 ↗ questions I can answer them.

7:55 ↗ >> Are there any questions for Janie?

7:58 ↗ >> All right that was excellent. Thank you

8:00 ↗ very much.

8:01 ↗ >> Thank you.

8:02 ↗ >> Curious if is the council going to have

8:04 ↗ a council wagon? No, not decided yet.

8:08 ↗ Okay.

8:10 ↗ It's now time for public comments.

8:11 ↗ Council made in person or virtually.

8:13 ↗ Those of you signed up in advance will

8:14 ↗ be called on first. If you're joining

8:16 ↗ virtually, please raise your virtual

8:17 ↗ hand or send the host a chat message.

8:19 ↗ Those on the phone can do star three.

8:22 ↗ And if your room did not sign up, there

8:24 ↗ will be an opportunity for you to raise

8:26 ↗ your hand if you'd like to speak before

8:27 ↗ we close this portion of the meeting.

8:29 ↗ And city clerk, is there anyone signed

8:31 ↗ up to speak for general audience

8:32 ↗ comments?

8:33 ↗ >> Yes, David Banks, who's here in the

8:34 ↗ room?

8:35 ↗ >> All right, come on up. And please state

8:38 ↗ your name and relationship to the city.

8:39 ↗ Thank you very much, David.

8:44 ↗ >> Okay. Hi, I'm David Bangs. I live in the

8:47 ↗ South Cove neighborhood and um I have

8:51 ↗ been looking forward to the opening of

8:54 ↗ the Tesla Chargers on Gilman Boulevard

8:57 ↗ in front of the Barnes & Noble. And I'm

9:00 ↗ noticing here that the permit for that

9:03 ↗ uh facility was filed in May of 2023.

9:06 ↗ They started construction in 2024. They

9:10 ↗ finished construction in 2025. And the

9:12 ↗ there's no sign that they're ever going

9:14 ↗ to open this place. And so I've been

9:17 ↗ just waiting because it's one of the

9:19 ↗ little things that could tip me into

9:21 ↗ getting an electric car. I'm excited

9:22 ↗ about them, but I'm thinking there

9:24 ↗ aren't enough chargers. And Isiziqua

9:26 ↗ doesn't inspire any confidence because

9:28 ↗ for example, the chargers over at the

9:30 ↗ Fairfield are overnight chargers. And uh

9:34 ↗ the other ones are just one here and

9:37 ↗ there. But this Tesla station, they're

9:39 ↗ the absolute best Tesla chargers they

9:41 ↗ make. Um, they support all kinds of

9:43 ↗ vehicles at super high speeds and

9:46 ↗ they're never going to open them. How do

9:48 ↗ I know? Because I I went to the

9:51 ↗ Northwind band uh version of the

9:53 ↗ charging station and a Tesla employee

9:56 ↗ was there who I said, "What's going to

9:58 ↗ happen in Isiqua?" And he said, "We're

9:59 ↗ probably going to yank them out because

10:01 ↗ we can't work with the permit process."

10:04 ↗ It had to do with the city of Isiziqua

10:06 ↗ and Puget Sound Energy. But I'm super

10:08 ↗ disappointed because I've been looking

10:10 ↗ forward to an electric car future and it

10:12 ↗ feels like well from his attitude that

10:15 ↗ the cities are are just out to block

10:18 ↗ them and because they process of getting

10:21 ↗ them approved and getting the power

10:22 ↗ connection done is so difficult that it

10:24 ↗ wouldn't be worth the effort to try

10:26 ↗ again to install an electric charging

10:28 ↗ station in Isiqua. And um I I don't

10:33 ↗ know. I I just want to make sure that

10:36 ↗ that's out there on the table. If

10:37 ↗ there's anything as aqua can do to

10:39 ↗ salvage this project, um I would

10:41 ↗ appreciate um I have nothing to do with

10:44 ↗ it. I'm just an observer. So, thank you.

10:48 ↗ >> Excellent. Thank you very much. And if

10:50 ↗ you wouldn't mind, David, maybe leave

10:51 ↗ your contact information up here so we

10:53 ↗ can follow up with you tomorrow and uh

10:55 ↗ that'd be really helpful from our

10:57 ↗ >> Okay. All right.

10:58 ↗ >> Okay. Um,

11:01 ↗ >> there are a few folks, members of the

11:03 ↗ public who are with us virtually. Um, if

11:07 ↗ you are interested in making comments,

11:08 ↗ if you could use your little that little

11:11 ↗ hand icon on your screen. All right. So,

11:13 ↗ it looks like Corby Castler would like

11:15 ↗ to make comments. Corby going to make

11:18 ↗ you a panelist now. You should be able

11:20 ↗ to unmute and can choose to turn your

11:22 ↗ video on.

11:27 ↗ Hi. Hi. I'm Forby. I'm the executive

11:30 ↗ director of the Downtown Isqua

11:31 ↗ Association, and I apologize that my

11:34 ↗ video camera does not work, but I just

11:36 ↗ wanted to say thank you for allowing me

11:39 ↗ to to comment tonight. We do have an

11:43 ↗ open house this Wednesday from February

11:45 ↗ 25th. Um, starting at 3:00, we have an

11:49 ↗ annual meeting from 3:00 to 4:00, a

11:51 ↗ joint committee meeting from 4:15 to

11:53 ↗ 5:30, and then a volunteer meetup from

11:56 ↗ 6:00 to 7:30. And all of these events

11:58 ↗ will take place in the Isqua Library

12:00 ↗ meeting room. So, we'd love to have you

12:02 ↗ for any or all of these opportunities.

12:05 ↗ The annual meeting will be more about

12:07 ↗ accomplishments from 2025 and what we're

12:10 ↗ planning to do in 2026 as well as just a

12:14 ↗ few exciting announcements that we will

12:16 ↗ be making. Um, and opportunity to answer

12:19 ↗ any questions. The committee is more

12:21 ↗ about roll up your sleeves and talk

12:23 ↗ about what we're going to be doing

12:24 ↗ around our four main street pillars. And

12:27 ↗ the volunteer meetup is all about

12:30 ↗ getting to know more volunteers, people

12:31 ↗ who want to sign up or want to be

12:33 ↗ trained in Main Street Approach or about

12:36 ↗ DIA. Um we're happy to accommodate them.

12:38 ↗ So we're hoping that to see some of you

12:40 ↗ or all of you um on Wednesday the 25th

12:43 ↗ again from 3 to 7:30 and there's more

12:45 ↗ details on our Facebook page. So thank

12:47 ↗ you very much. I appreciate your

12:49 ↗ listening.

12:50 ↗ >> Thank you very much Corby.

12:55 ↗ City Clicker, how are we looking for

12:56 ↗ other folks?

12:57 ↗ >> Yeah, it looks like we have one other

12:59 ↗ commenter. Um Rick, in response to your

13:03 ↗ message, um we do not read public

13:05 ↗ comments received by email aloud. So, if

13:07 ↗ you'd like to address the council, you

13:08 ↗ can certainly do that. I'm going to go

13:10 ↗ ahead and give you the ability to unmute

13:13 ↗ if you'd like to make comments.

13:19 ↗ >> Hi, thank you for uh allowing me a

13:22 ↗ chance to speak. Um, thank you uh, Mayor

13:24 ↗ Mulla and city council for your time. My

13:26 ↗ name is Rick Shu. I'm the pastor of

13:28 ↗ Faith United Methodist Church located in

13:30 ↗ the Kahani neighborhood and I'm a

13:32 ↗ resident of Isiqua with children in the

13:34 ↗ Isqua school district. I apologize that

13:36 ↗ I can't be present with you this

13:38 ↗ evening. I'm actually traveling out of

13:39 ↗ town. Um, but first I want to say thank

13:41 ↗ you. I came before you all last fall

13:43 ↗ with an appeal for greater care for our

13:45 ↗ community in light of the fearinducing

13:47 ↗ actions of immigration and custom

13:50 ↗ enforcement agents. Um, I asked you to

13:52 ↗ be present at the Dea Delos Muoss

13:54 ↗ celebration at the community center and

13:57 ↗ it was really encouraging to see you and

13:59 ↗ so many of our broader community there

14:01 ↗ along with rapid response volunteers

14:03 ↗ surrounding the event and uh so just

14:05 ↗ thank you for listening and responding

14:06 ↗ with care for your community. Um,

14:10 ↗ secondly, I want to address what

14:11 ↗ happened at the studentled protest that

14:13 ↗ took place in our city on February 9th,

14:15 ↗ especially since my name and image has

14:17 ↗ been shared online. Strangely enough, to

14:20 ↗ be both thanked and ridiculed by the

14:22 ↗ critics of the studentled protest. I was

14:25 ↗ observing the protest on the steps of

14:26 ↗ the city hall as a parent and a

14:28 ↗ community member. I did not see the two

14:31 ↗ women confront the teenagers with

14:32 ↗ multiple cameras, but I've seen the

14:34 ↗ videos since, as many have. Uh, when the

14:37 ↗ confrontation escalated from bumping to

14:40 ↗ shoving to hands and hair pulling, I

14:42 ↗ quickly ran across the street to

14:43 ↗ deescalate and to separate. I initiate I

14:47 ↗ initial initially attempted to move the

14:50 ↗ woman at the center of the melee to the

14:52 ↗ other side of the street, but she

14:54 ↗ insisted to go back into the crowd to

14:55 ↗ look for her phone. I went with her in

14:58 ↗ order to keep my body between her and

14:59 ↗ the students until I convinced her to

15:01 ↗ leave the phone behind and walked her

15:03 ↗ down the sidewalk to where a police

15:05 ↗ officer was approaching. Uh the whole

15:07 ↗ episode took about 90 seconds. Um not

15:10 ↗ one student hit me or touched me in any

15:12 ↗ way. I did receive a little collateral

15:14 ↗ silly string, but I was able to recover

15:17 ↗ uh with minimal effort.

15:20 ↗ I was disappointed to learn a day later

15:22 ↗ that the women who confronted the

15:23 ↗ students were online political content

15:25 ↗ creators. I had witnessed a well-led

15:28 ↗ peaceful protest for nearly an hour

15:31 ↗ until they were confronted by these

15:33 ↗ women. After the altercation was over,

15:35 ↗ the protest went on peacefully for more

15:37 ↗ than another hour. In fact, many of the

15:39 ↗ students had no idea that the

15:41 ↗ confrontation even happened until videos

15:42 ↗ were being shared online. But as a

15:45 ↗ result of this confrontation becoming

15:47 ↗ the central story of the day, people who

15:49 ↗ are not a part of our community are now

15:51 ↗ interlocked in a vicious cycle of online

15:54 ↗ doxing, harassing, and violent threats

15:56 ↗ with children in our community. And the

15:59 ↗ result of all this is simply more and

16:01 ↗ more fear.

16:02 ↗ And I understand what it is to be

16:04 ↗ afraid. I've shared with you before how

16:06 ↗ I was beaten by a state trooper during a

16:09 ↗ traffic stop for a failure to appear in

16:11 ↗ court for a literally for a littering

16:12 ↗ case. I couldn't understand why an armed

16:15 ↗ officer was continually slamming my head

16:17 ↗ into a car for what was ultimately a

16:20 ↗ mistake in paperwork. It wasn't until

16:22 ↗ later that another police officer saw my

16:24 ↗ situation, apologized, and told me that

16:27 ↗ it was because of the color of my skin

16:28 ↗ that I suffered such a disproportionate

16:30 ↗ and violent reaction from that state

16:32 ↗ trooper. That happened 20 year over 20

16:35 ↗ years ago in another state. But a part

16:37 ↗ of me will always be afraid. That fear

16:40 ↗ is exactly why our students were

16:42 ↗ practicing their first amendment right

16:43 ↗ that day. They were speaking out because

16:46 ↗ their friends, classmates, family, and

16:48 ↗ community are afraid that they will not

16:50 ↗ get equal treatment under the law

16:52 ↗ precisely because of the color of their

16:53 ↗ skin. They are speaking out against ICE

16:56 ↗ and the lack of due process for our

16:57 ↗ neighbors because they know fear. And

17:00 ↗ this is the message that should not be

17:02 ↗ missed in all of this. I stand behind

17:04 ↗ our students and their right to assemble

17:07 ↗ and to voice their fears and their

17:08 ↗ concerns. Finally, I want to say thank

17:11 ↗ you to the police department who acted

17:12 ↗ that day. Thank you for your patience

17:15 ↗ and presence. As we know, the actions of

17:17 ↗ one heckler or bad actor does not

17:19 ↗ invalidate the first amendment right of

17:21 ↗ all those present. I was glad to see

17:23 ↗ that the protest was not disrupted by

17:25 ↗ law enforcement. Uh, this is my

17:28 ↗ community. As best as I can, I will

17:31 ↗ continue to show up for my neighbors and

17:32 ↗ my community. I will always act to help

17:35 ↗ deescalate and bring peace. I love this

17:38 ↗ community and I love my neighbors. I do

17:40 ↗ not know how to alleviate all of our

17:42 ↗ fears, but I know that we cannot do it

17:44 ↗ without deep commitment to each other

17:46 ↗ and to building stronger relationships

17:48 ↗ in our community. And I am so committed.

17:51 ↗ Thank you for your time.

17:53 ↗ >> Thank you very much, Rick.

17:55 ↗ City clerk, is there anybody else?

17:57 ↗ >> No one else online is indicating a

17:59 ↗ desire to speak.

18:00 ↗ >> Anyone else in the room want to speak?

18:03 ↗ Not seeing anybody. That will close

18:05 ↗ audience comments. If just as a

18:08 ↗ reminder, you can submit written

18:09 ↗ comments to city council. It is qua.gov.

18:12 ↗ That moves us to the next item of

18:14 ↗ business, which is the consent calendar.

18:16 ↗ I do not have any remarks on the consent

18:19 ↗ calendar, but committee chairs, uh, any

18:22 ↗ want to have any remarks on the consent

18:24 ↗ calendar items or any member of the

18:27 ↗ council.

18:30 ↗ Okay, not seeing any. The consent

18:32 ↗ calendar is distributed to the council

18:33 ↗ in advance. If authorized, the item

18:36 ↗ items on the consent calendar will be

18:37 ↗ considered together and approved by one

18:39 ↗ motion. Have the payables and payroll

18:42 ↗ been reviewed?

18:43 ↗ >> Yes,

18:44 ↗ >> they have.

18:45 ↗ >> Right. Does any council member want to

18:47 ↗ remove any items from the consent

18:48 ↗ calendar and consider it under regular

18:50 ↗ business?

18:53 ↗ Not seeing any, I will ask for a motion.

18:58 ↗ >> Thank you. Uh, Mayor Mullet, I will move

19:01 ↗ adoption of the consent calendar as

19:04 ↗ presented.

19:06 ↗ >> Second.

19:07 ↗ >> There has been a motion and a second.

19:09 ↗ All those in favor say I.

19:12 ↗ >> I.

19:13 ↗ >> I. All those opposed? Nay.

19:16 ↗ And that passes unanimously. The next

19:18 ↗ item of business is regular business.

19:20 ↗ It's agenda bill 9137, amendments to

19:22 ↗ council rules and procedures. Our city

19:25 ↗ clerk, Mr. Gizer, is going to present

19:27 ↗ this item.

19:36 ↗ Hello, city council.

19:38 ↗ Just share my screen real quick.

19:53 ↗ All right.

19:55 ↗ Yes. So, I'm Tisha Gizer and I'm here to

19:57 ↗ present AB 9137, which is amendments to

20:00 ↗ council rules of procedure.

20:04 ↗ All right. So, uh there's a twofold

20:06 ↗ purpose tonight. One is uh we are

20:09 ↗ suggesting that the council form an ad

20:10 ↗ hoc committee to consider some revisions

20:12 ↗ to your rules returning to the full

20:15 ↗ council with a recommendation at the May

20:17 ↗ 4th meeting. And then the second uh

20:19 ↗ purpose is to give you a sense of uh

20:22 ↗ some of the things on the list we've

20:24 ↗ compiled to be considered for amendments

20:26 ↗ to your rules and see if you have any

20:27 ↗ other areas you'd like considered or if

20:30 ↗ you have any, you know, strong

20:31 ↗ viewpoints that you'd like to share

20:33 ↗ about um in advance of the committee uh

20:36 ↗ diving into these potential amendments.

20:40 ↗ So, a little bit of background. Uh the

20:42 ↗ city council sort of overhauled their

20:44 ↗ rules in 2018. at that time a ad hoc

20:48 ↗ committee was convened to help you know

20:50 ↗ kind of give a a a look at the entire

20:53 ↗ rules. Um since that time so they were

20:56 ↗ adopted in 2019 there have been two

20:59 ↗ additional ad hoc committees one in 2021

21:01 ↗ and one in 2022 and typically an ad hoc

21:04 ↗ committee has been formed when there are

21:06 ↗ either significant changes or many

21:08 ↗ changes. Um as you know the council has

21:11 ↗ also periodically made minor changes to

21:13 ↗ the rules. Most recently, you made some

21:15 ↗ revisions to your appointment process

21:17 ↗ when there's a vacancy. Um, and what I

21:20 ↗ think is wonderful about this is I think

21:22 ↗ the rules by and large um are being

21:24 ↗ followed and are consistent with how you

21:26 ↗ work and you've uh done a really nice

21:28 ↗ job of keeping them current and

21:29 ↗ maintained. Um, but we do think there

21:32 ↗ are a few things to take a look at this

21:34 ↗ year. So, uh, and these have come from

21:38 ↗ the city council, a few of them, and

21:40 ↗ then there are a few, um, staff

21:41 ↗ suggested areas as well. So, in your

21:44 ↗ council packet, there was a list of 23

21:46 ↗ items um that were sort of either things

21:49 ↗ the council has brought up or uh I sort

21:52 ↗ of maintain a list of things just uh

21:55 ↗ that come up from time to time where

21:57 ↗ we're maybe a little misaligned with the

21:59 ↗ rules or could provide some better

22:00 ↗ clarity. I'm going to go over the first

22:02 ↗ nine because they are what I would

22:05 ↗ consider more significant and then

22:07 ↗ there's many kind of lower level items

22:09 ↗ that are about clarification or

22:12 ↗ alignment with current practice. So, uh

22:14 ↗ on this slide here we have the first one

22:17 ↗ is um looking at community listening

22:19 ↗ sessions. Uh this was something that

22:21 ↗ council was really um interested in when

22:23 ↗ the rules can't recall if they were if

22:25 ↗ this was the initial draft or if this

22:27 ↗ occurred during one of those ad hoc

22:29 ↗ committees, but it seems like it might

22:31 ↗ be worth just relooking at those um and

22:33 ↗ seeing if there should be changes made

22:36 ↗ that uh is a a staff suggestion. The

22:38 ↗ second item is the new business request

22:40 ↗ process. Uh this is a council motivated

22:43 ↗ item. We heard at your January 31st

22:45 ↗ retreat there was some interest in

22:47 ↗ relooking at that process which is is

22:50 ↗ very spelled out in the rules. Uh the

22:53 ↗ third item is uh regarding committees.

22:56 ↗ So during the um mid bienium budget

22:59 ↗ adjustment there was some discussion

23:00 ↗ around forming an ad hoc committee I'm

23:02 ↗ sorry an audit committee of the council

23:05 ↗ as a standing committee. And so uh we'd

23:07 ↗ like to get some additional council

23:09 ↗ input on whether that warrants formation

23:11 ↗ and what that might look like. Number

23:13 ↗ four, uh we heard at the council retreat

23:15 ↗ some interest around a social media

23:17 ↗ policy. That is very uh a very relevant

23:21 ↗ thing to include in your council rules,

23:22 ↗ but there's not anything currently in

23:24 ↗ them addressing that. Number five, uh

23:28 ↗ the council has a travel policy, but

23:30 ↗ it's in a resolution from 2008, which

23:32 ↗ makes it difficult for both staff and

23:34 ↗ council members to re remember. And so

23:38 ↗ uh I think it could be beneficial to

23:39 ↗ review that policy and then consider

23:41 ↗ adding it to the council rules.

23:44 ↗ Moving to the next slide, a few more

23:46 ↗ here. Uh number six, agenda placement.

23:49 ↗ This is really consist

23:51 ↗ relates to the new business request

23:53 ↗ process. They kind of go hand in hand.

23:55 ↗ So I think it warrants if we're going to

23:57 ↗ look at if the council's going to look

23:59 ↗ at the new business request process, I

24:00 ↗ think it makes sense to look at how

24:01 ↗ items are added to the agenda.

24:04 ↗ Number seven, audience comments. um the

24:06 ↗ city attorney uh and I uh are do have

24:10 ↗ some concerns over the current

24:11 ↗ guidelines and feel that some of that

24:12 ↗ could be challenging to enforce. Um as

24:15 ↗ well you some other local agencies have

24:17 ↗ gone away from requiring folks uh state

24:20 ↗ and address and actually the council's

24:21 ↗ practice is to not really require that.

24:23 ↗ So suggest some minor changes to true

24:25 ↗ that up. Number eight, uh we'd like to

24:29 ↗ revisit how seniority is determined for

24:31 ↗ the council. And number nine, uh, the

24:34 ↗ council has also a unique provision in

24:36 ↗ the rules that when you abstain from

24:37 ↗ voting, it's considered a yes vote. And,

24:40 ↗ uh, I I think that could be of interest

24:42 ↗ for the council to review and consider

24:44 ↗ if, uh, that's something you'd still

24:46 ↗ like to keep in place. And then, as I

24:48 ↗ mentioned, there's a number of other

24:50 ↗ items that are more minor in nature that

24:52 ↗ I'm not going to go over tonight.

24:55 ↗ So, again, uh, we're suggesting an ad

24:57 ↗ hoc committee be formed to provide input

25:00 ↗ on the rules. uh the per your rules an

25:03 ↗ ad hoc committee can be appointed by the

25:05 ↗ council president or a majority of the

25:06 ↗ council. I think it would be beneficial

25:08 ↗ to if the council approves establishing

25:11 ↗ a committee to consider making the

25:12 ↗ appointments tonight. Uh in the past so

25:16 ↗ as you saw there have been three ad hoc

25:17 ↗ committees on the rules. Typically we

25:19 ↗ haven't had public comment at these

25:21 ↗ committee meetings which means that they

25:23 ↗ haven't had to fully comply with the

25:24 ↗ open public meetings act. this has given

25:27 ↗ us a little more flexibility in uh

25:29 ↗ meeting locations and timing. Uh so that

25:32 ↗ is what I'm suggesting tonight. We've

25:35 ↗ been very diligent in documenting the

25:37 ↗ decision-making and recommendations that

25:39 ↗ have come out of those groups and would

25:41 ↗ be committed to doing that again. Uh but

25:43 ↗ wanted to make you aware and if council

25:45 ↗ wants to do something differently, you

25:46 ↗ could specify that in the motion. Uh my

25:51 ↗ uh

25:52 ↗ best guess is that this would take about

25:54 ↗ two to three meetings to work through in

25:57 ↗ March and April with a final

25:58 ↗ recommendation by April 30th. And then

26:01 ↗ as with uh really any ad hoc committee,

26:03 ↗ the committee would be dissolved after

26:05 ↗ making their final recommendation.

26:10 ↗ Uh a note here that the chair of the

26:12 ↗ committee could be determined tonight or

26:14 ↗ could be determined by the committee at

26:16 ↗ their first meeting. So again, tonight

26:18 ↗ we're looking for two things. One, uh,

26:20 ↗ council's consideration to establish an

26:22 ↗ ad hoc committee, and the motion is is

26:24 ↗ in that beige slide. And then also, if

26:27 ↗ there are any additional areas of the

26:29 ↗ rules you'd like the committee to look

26:30 ↗ at, or again have any anything you'd

26:32 ↗ like the committee to consider regarding

26:34 ↗ any of these uh areas I've covered

26:36 ↗ tonight, um, please share. And that

26:40 ↗ concludes my presentation.

26:42 ↗ >> All right. Are there any questions for

26:44 ↗ Tisha?

26:46 ↗ Okay, not seeing any. I think the

26:48 ↗ sequence here is first we're going to

26:51 ↗ ask for a motion to create the

26:52 ↗ committee. If that motion passes, then

26:54 ↗ we'll then move for who might be on said

26:56 ↗ committee.

26:58 ↗ Is there a motion?

27:02 ↗ Council President D. Michelle.

27:05 ↗ >> Uh, thank you, Mayor Mullet. I am

27:07 ↗ looking for the the motion. Sorry.

27:11 ↗ >> Deputy President Marks. Um Barb, if you

27:16 ↗ don't mind, I'll move to establish a

27:18 ↗ council rules ad hoc committee to

27:20 ↗ consider changes to the council rules of

27:22 ↗ procedure as identified in agenda bill

27:24 ↗ 9137

27:26 ↗ returning to the full council at the May

27:28 ↗ 4th city council meeting with a formal

27:30 ↗ recommendation.

27:34 ↗ >> Thank you.

27:35 ↗ >> There's been a motion council president

27:38 ↗ >> and council member Walsh.

27:40 ↗ >> Second.

27:40 ↗ >> All right. There's been a motion and a

27:43 ↗ second. Is there any discussion?

27:46 ↗ Council member Walsh.

27:47 ↗ >> Thank you. Um I highly support this and

27:50 ↗ would be interested in serving on it as

27:52 ↗ I have discussed with council

27:54 ↗ leadership. I would like to propose two

27:57 ↗ additions. Um based on my experience on

28:00 ↗ the council, the first is to section

28:02 ↗ 2.04 appointments. Um, we continually

28:07 ↗ have council make an exception to our

28:08 ↗ rules in order to appoint council

28:11 ↗ members to standing committees because

28:13 ↗ we have been very structured on whether

28:16 ↗ or not leadership can be on multiple

28:19 ↗ committees, who can chair, whether or

28:20 ↗ not chairs can be on other committees

28:22 ↗ and I think we have uh over many years

28:26 ↗ uh realized that maybe that is a little

28:28 ↗ bit too strict. So I'd like uh the

28:30 ↗ committee the ad hoc committee to look

28:32 ↗ at that. And then the other point that I

28:35 ↗ think would be interesting to look at is

28:37 ↗ 6.01 the standing committees. Um we had

28:40 ↗ mentioned an interest in a finance and

28:42 ↗ audits committee but we haven't decided

28:45 ↗ whether it's separate or included an

28:47 ↗ existing committee and thus it hasn't

28:50 ↗ been added to our rules. And then

28:52 ↗ another thing I've discussed with other

28:54 ↗ um city council other cities city

28:57 ↗ council members is that um some of them

29:00 ↗ provide a legislative advocacy

29:02 ↗ committee. And I think that might be

29:05 ↗ something that as maybe an ad hoc or a

29:08 ↗ temporary committee could be interesting

29:10 ↗ to um council members. And so I wanted

29:13 ↗ to propose both of those as we are

29:16 ↗ looking at potentials for what our

29:18 ↗ standing committee makeup might be. All

29:21 ↗ right. Excellent. Any other discussion?

29:24 ↗ Council member Adair.

29:25 ↗ >> I just want to echo since obviously I

29:27 ↗ was not here before when was originally

29:28 ↗ thought, but an audit and finance

29:30 ↗ committee as the CPA I think is very

29:32 ↗ wise uh to form and just wanted to voice

29:36 ↗ my support for such a committee. Um

29:38 ↗ because I do think especially as budget

29:39 ↗ cycles are coming up that would actually

29:41 ↗ be a very wise thing to consider.

29:44 ↗ Council

29:44 ↗ >> member Jen.

29:45 ↗ >> Yeah, I want to echo what council member

29:47 ↗ said. I also really like council member

29:48 ↗ Walsh's suggestion of having a

29:50 ↗ potential, you know, state legislative

29:52 ↗ advocacy committee. Um, I know, you

29:54 ↗ know, it seems like given the nature of

29:56 ↗ the way that our state legislature

29:58 ↗ works, it's very short and very quick.

30:00 ↗ And I think to the extent that, you

30:01 ↗ know, there might be certain council

30:02 ↗ members who would like to be more

30:04 ↗ engaged with that process rather than

30:06 ↗ simply just being, you know, informed by

30:08 ↗ our uh government affairs person once a

30:11 ↗ week. Um, I think it would be great to

30:12 ↗ have, you know, a group for those folks

30:14 ↗ who are interested in that.

30:16 ↗ All right. Is there any other

30:17 ↗ discussion?

30:20 ↗ Okay. Not seeing any motion for the

30:23 ↗ council's establish a council rules ad

30:25 ↗ hoc committee to consider changes to the

30:27 ↗ council rules and procedures as

30:28 ↗ identified in the agenda bill 9137

30:30 ↗ returning the full council at the May 4

30:32 ↗ city council meeting with a formal

30:34 ↗ recommendation. All those in favor,

30:35 ↗ please say I.

30:37 ↗ >> I.

30:38 ↗ >> I.

30:39 ↗ >> All those opposed, nay. And that passes

30:42 ↗ unanimously. The next item of business

30:44 ↗ is

30:50 ↗ >> Yes, we're doing that next. That's

30:51 ↗ sorry. The next item of business is

30:55 ↗ looking for a motion to nominate

30:58 ↗ members. And I'm going to look to Deputy

30:59 ↗ President Mark.

31:01 ↗ >> I didn't know if we needed to do it as a

31:03 ↗ vote. Tisha is shaking her head. No. So,

31:05 ↗ we we had a process whereby we solicited

31:08 ↗ um people to uh who are interested in

31:11 ↗ potentially being on this committee and

31:13 ↗ I know uh the council president has some

31:15 ↗ thoughts on the on the membership and

31:17 ↗ leadership of the at our committee.

31:19 ↗ >> Council President Dashelle,

31:21 ↗ >> thank you so much. Yes, I appreciate the

31:24 ↗ fact that we had uh three people very

31:27 ↗ interested in serving on this committee,

31:29 ↗ but um I am uh as the council president

31:33 ↗ and with in consultation with the deputy

31:35 ↗ council president recommending that

31:39 ↗ myself be appointed to the committee

31:41 ↗ along with uh council member Walsh and

31:44 ↗ council member Nichols.

31:46 ↗ And if she is willing, I would love to

31:48 ↗ have council member Walsh chair this

31:50 ↗ committee.

31:53 ↗ We're seeing nods.

31:56 ↗ Affirmative nods.

32:01 ↗ Okay, I think that is done.

32:05 ↗ So, moved and voted on successfully

32:08 ↗ by moving it. Okay, we're going to now

32:10 ↗ go to committee reports and we will

32:13 ↗ start with council member Adair. Uh, I

32:16 ↗ don't really have reports yet other than

32:18 ↗ to note I have been named as alternate

32:19 ↗ on the SCA public issues committee and

32:22 ↗ east side fire and rescue board.

32:25 ↗ >> I think council member Derry, you should

32:26 ↗ take credit for within 3 weeks of you

32:29 ↗ getting on the council, the Seahawks won

32:30 ↗ the Super Bowl. You should claim that

32:32 ↗ was

32:32 ↗ >> that was that was me very much. Yes,

32:35 ↗ >> Council Member Jen.

32:36 ↗ >> Great. Okay, I have three reports, so

32:38 ↗ buckle up. Um, so the first one was the

32:40 ↗ Planning, Development, and Environment

32:42 ↗ Committee. We had our first meeting of

32:43 ↗ the year on Tuesday, uh, February 3rd.

32:46 ↗ There were three items. The first one

32:47 ↗ was impact fee waivers for childcare

32:49 ↗ facilities. We're proposing exempting

32:51 ↗ childcare facilities from traffic impact

32:53 ↗ fees because these fees can be quite

32:55 ↗ ownorous. Um, we heard from a uh

32:58 ↗ business owner who's facing a $400,000

33:00 ↗ traffic impact fee for a childare

33:02 ↗ facility serving 180 students. They're

33:04 ↗ converting an existing office building

33:06 ↗ to childcare facility. So, um, this is

33:09 ↗ going to come back on regular business

33:10 ↗ in the next, uh, council meeting. The

33:13 ↗ committee unanimously agreed to, um,

33:14 ↗ wave 80% of traffic impact fees for all

33:16 ↗ childcare facilities and 100% of traffic

33:18 ↗ impact fees if at least 25% of the

33:21 ↗ students served by that facility receive

33:23 ↗ state subsidized childare. Um, the next

33:25 ↗ item was reviewing the docket of

33:27 ↗ comprehensive plan amendments. This is

33:29 ↗ basically just an administrative thing

33:31 ↗ um, updating our comprehensive plan

33:32 ↗ that's going to come back on consent in

33:34 ↗ the March 2nd meeting. Um, and then this

33:36 ↗ the last item was reviewing the 2024

33:39 ↗ greenhouse gas emissions inventory and

33:41 ↗ the 2026 climate action plan update. In

33:44 ↗ summary, we are not on track to meet our

33:46 ↗ greenhouse gas emission goals. As a

33:47 ↗ city, our world is not on track to meet

33:49 ↗ our greenhouse gas emissions goals. Um,

33:51 ↗ but as a city this year, we're going to

33:53 ↗ be looking at what types of climate

33:54 ↗ policies we can pass locally that could

33:57 ↗ move the needle. So, it's going to come

33:58 ↗ back to the planning, development, and

34:00 ↗ environment committee for review, which

34:01 ↗ is our next meeting in March. that's

34:03 ↗ been rescheduled to March 17th. Um, and

34:06 ↗ there's also gonna probably it's

34:07 ↗ probably going to come back to the full

34:08 ↗ council um for review probably in May.

34:11 ↗ Um, so it's going to be a big topic of

34:12 ↗ conversation for this year. Um, the next

34:16 ↗ meeting uh regionally, so there's the

34:18 ↗ East Side Transportation Partnership

34:19 ↗ meeting on Friday uh February 13th. We

34:22 ↗ got updates from the Puget Sound

34:24 ↗ Regional Council on State and Federal

34:26 ↗ Transportation Priorities as well as a

34:28 ↗ presentation from WASHDOT about the

34:30 ↗ state's transportation resilience

34:32 ↗ improvement plan or trip which is a

34:34 ↗ great acronym. Um especially in light of

34:37 ↗ increasing extreme weather events. You

34:39 ↗ know, we saw recent flooding, trees

34:41 ↗ falling on cars in the Snowqualami

34:42 ↗ Valley, wildfires, etc. So, there's

34:44 ↗ going to be public comment opportunities

34:46 ↗ as they work through that later this

34:47 ↗ year. Um, and finally, there was a

34:50 ↗ governing board meeting for the King

34:51 ↗ County Regional Homelessness Authority

34:52 ↗ this past Friday, uh, February 20th.

34:55 ↗ This was basically like some business

34:57 ↗ that they were supposed to do in

34:59 ↗ December that got postponed to this

35:00 ↗ year, including passing the budget for

35:02 ↗ 2026, as well as some administrative um,

35:06 ↗ you know, minor edits to the strategic

35:07 ↗ plan. Um, a lot. It's not just me who's

35:11 ↗ new. It's like all new, you know,

35:13 ↗ Seattle City Council members who,

35:14 ↗ Seattle mayor, new King County

35:16 ↗ Executive. Um, and so the majority of

35:19 ↗ the governing board is new. Um, and

35:20 ↗ there was actually some really excellent

35:22 ↗ conversation about like what the role is

35:24 ↗ of the regional homelessness authority

35:26 ↗ and how we can be strategic in, you

35:29 ↗ know, figuring out how to use our funds

35:31 ↗ towards uh, strategies that are

35:33 ↗ effective at moving the needle on

35:34 ↗ homelessness. Um, it was great to hear,

35:36 ↗ you know, the new chair of the governing

35:38 ↗ board, Mayor Wilson, actually really

35:39 ↗ pushing for like what types of

35:41 ↗ quantitative metrics are we going to try

35:43 ↗ to achieve as a group. Um, so more to

35:45 ↗ come there. We're having our next uh

35:48 ↗ governing board meeting on Friday, March

35:50 ↗ 27th, and we're having an in-person

35:52 ↗ board retreat in April. So, should all

35:54 ↗ be very interesting. And that concludes

35:56 ↗ my report.

35:57 ↗ >> All right, Council Member Joe.

35:59 ↗ >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

36:02 ↗ The uh Cascade Water Alliance will be

36:05 ↗ having a board meeting on uh the 25th.

36:08 ↗ Um the Cascade Board oversight committee

36:12 ↗ is starting to form and the first

36:14 ↗ meeting will be March 6th. Uh that

36:17 ↗ oversight uh committee will be looking

36:20 ↗ at how um decisions are made as Cascade

36:24 ↗ Water Alliance considers spending uh

36:26 ↗ millions or billions of dollars on a

36:28 ↗ pipeline uh that will connect the the

36:31 ↗ infrastructure from Tacoma's water

36:33 ↗ system to Cascade Water Alliance's

36:36 ↗ system. Uh that meeting is March 6th. Uh

36:39 ↗ lodging tax advisory committee met

36:40 ↗ today. Uh the committee uh reviewed 17

36:44 ↗ proposals which requested $235,000

36:48 ↗ in spending. We had $50,000 in funding

36:51 ↗ available. Uh the recommendations will

36:53 ↗ be coming back to council later this

36:55 ↗ year. Um

36:58 ↗ the mobility and infrastructure

36:59 ↗ committee will next be meeting on March

37:01 ↗ 10th. Uh, currently on the agenda are

37:03 ↗ amendments to the street standards

37:05 ↗ utility facilities and street standards

37:08 ↗ landscaping update. That concludes my

37:10 ↗ report. Thank you.

37:12 ↗ >> Thank you very much, Council Member

37:13 ↗ Walsh.

37:14 ↗ >> Thank you.

37:16 ↗ Excuse me. The services, safety, and

37:18 ↗ parks uh committee will meet tomorrow

37:21 ↗ with a starting time of 7 p.m. to allow

37:23 ↗ for the SAS light rail meeting from 5:30

37:26 ↗ to 6:30. Um, our topic for SSP is

37:30 ↗ emergency management and the hazard

37:32 ↗ mitigations report. Um, East Side Fire

37:36 ↗ and Rescue met on February 12th and

37:39 ↗ adopted our four board priorities for

37:41 ↗ 2026,

37:44 ↗ excuse me. That includes uh adopting the

37:46 ↗ 2027 2028 budget since our previous

37:49 ↗ budget was such a difficult situation to

37:52 ↗ handle. um long-term funding and

37:55 ↗ governance strategy,

37:57 ↗ uh reserve and fund balance policies,

38:00 ↗ and long-term facility needs and

38:02 ↗ assessment. As you can see, we are

38:04 ↗ taking on some really big items there.

38:07 ↗ Um so looking forward to seeing that

38:09 ↗ move forward. Uh the next Epher meeting

38:11 ↗ will be March 12th and the agenda has

38:13 ↗ not been established and the ARCH

38:16 ↗ regional coalition for housing council

38:18 ↗ of elected officials is getting

38:20 ↗ launched. Members have been appointed.

38:22 ↗ We've gone through our initial

38:23 ↗ interviews and the first meeting is set

38:25 ↗ for March 26th at the Together Center

38:28 ↗ and that concludes my report.

38:30 ↗ >> All right. And Deputy President Marts.

38:33 ↗ >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I have three SCA

38:35 ↗ related items. SCA PIC met on Wednesday,

38:38 ↗ February 11th. It was really essentially

38:40 ↗ an orientation session for all the new

38:41 ↗ PIC members and there were a lot of new

38:43 ↗ PIC members. Huge turnover, probably

38:46 ↗ biggest turnover ever in my 16 years on

38:49 ↗ PIC. Uh so no actions were taken. SCA

38:52 ↗ board of directors has its annual

38:54 ↗ retreat tomorrow uh February uh 24th and

38:58 ↗ it's actually going to be at the uh

39:00 ↗ Virginia Mason Athletic Center,

39:01 ↗ otherwise known as um Seahawks uh

39:05 ↗ headquarters. So that'll be that'll be

39:07 ↗ fun. And then finally for this body, the

39:10 ↗ SCA networking event is Wednesday, March

39:13 ↗ 4th from 5:30 to 8 and it's actually

39:15 ↗ going to be on Mercer Island. So it's

39:17 ↗ really easy to get to. This is not one

39:19 ↗ of those ones that's going to uh break

39:20 ↗ your back as a commute. Um 5:30 to 8:30

39:24 ↗ on Wednesday, March March 4th, and you

39:27 ↗ can be fiscally prudent. Early bird

39:28 ↗ pricing is available through this

39:30 ↗ Wednesday. I will be there and I hope to

39:33 ↗ see everyone else there. That concludes

39:35 ↗ my report.

39:36 ↗ >> Thank you very much. And Council

39:37 ↗ President D. Michelle.

39:39 ↗ >> Thank you, Mayor. Um

39:43 ↗ let's see. On February the 18th, I was

39:46 ↗ able to attend the regional transit

39:48 ↗ committee. Um, let's see.

39:53 ↗ And um, in the caucus meeting prior to

39:57 ↗ the meeting, uh, we elected uh, Ron

40:03 ↗ Council President and Mayor Pro Tim, and

40:05 ↗ he won the award for the longest title

40:08 ↗ as the caucus chair. and uh and council

40:12 ↗ member Neil Black as our vice chair. Uh

40:16 ↗ and so those elections took place. Uh

40:19 ↗ the regional transit committee is also

40:21 ↗ under new leadership with uh newly

40:24 ↗ elected council member Feain as our uh

40:26 ↗ chair of the of the uh regional transit

40:29 ↗ committee. And it being our first

40:32 ↗ meeting of the year, we received an

40:34 ↗ overview of the RTC charter and then we

40:39 ↗ discussed and developed the work plan

40:41 ↗ for 2026.

40:44 ↗ So that ends my report. Thank you.

40:47 ↗ >> All right. Thank you very much. Uh the

40:49 ↗ mayor's report. We'll start with our

40:52 ↗ Seahawks victory over the New England

40:54 ↗ Patriots and happy report that we did

40:55 ↗ win our friendly wager with the mayor of

40:58 ↗ Somerville, Jake Wilson. So, the

41:01 ↗ agreement was that we would get a case

41:03 ↗ of the infamous marshmallow fluff, which

41:05 ↗ was founded many, many moons ago in the

41:08 ↗ town of Somerville. And that package has

41:10 ↗ arrived. It's currently on the dice. You

41:12 ↗ can see it in front of you. And when we

41:14 ↗ have executive session later tonight, I

41:15 ↗ am promising every council member a a

41:19 ↗ fluffern nutter, which is peanut butter

41:21 ↗ and marshmallow fluff. And council

41:23 ↗ president D. Michelle, I will bring you

41:24 ↗ a fluffern nutter myself on Friday. So

41:27 ↗ you you will get a fluffern nutter

41:29 ↗ delivered by the mayor. Uh isqua save

41:33 ↗ isqua's light rail community meeting

41:35 ↗ will be tomorrow. So, Sound Transit is

41:38 ↗ considering cutting this qualite rail

41:39 ↗ line to address budget challenges. Even

41:41 ↗ though our taxpayers have been paying

41:42 ↗ into this expansion for over a decade,

41:45 ↗ so join us tomorrow evening for a

41:47 ↗ community meeting to learn what's at

41:48 ↗ stake and discuss ways you can help save

41:50 ↗ Isiqua's light rail connection. A little

41:53 ↗ spoiler alert, there are purple

41:54 ↗ t-shirts, Save Isqua's light rail, that

41:57 ↗ folks who are going to be willing to

41:58 ↗ show up and testify at a Sound Transit

42:00 ↗ board meeting will get a t-shirt. And

42:02 ↗ that meeting will be in the east council

42:04 ↗ chambers tomorrow from 5:30 to 6:30. And

42:07 ↗ the Sound Transit Board meeting will be

42:09 ↗ February 26th from 1:30 to 4:00. And so

42:12 ↗ if you can't make the meeting here

42:15 ↗ tomorrow night, you can always go

42:16 ↗ directly to the Sound Transit Board on

42:18 ↗ Thursday afternoon. And the state of the

42:20 ↗ city address will be Thursday, February

42:22 ↗ 26th. We'll share updates on the

42:25 ↗ progress we made over the past year and

42:26 ↗ outline priorities for the year ahead.

42:27 ↗ Our chief of police, Paula Schwan will

42:29 ↗ provide an update on local community and

42:31 ↗ police efforts and superintendent

42:32 ↗ Heather Talyek will share the state of

42:34 ↗ Isqua schools and a recording of this

42:36 ↗ address will be posted to the city's

42:37 ↗ YouTube channel following the event.

42:39 ↗ Hope we can see folks there to discuss

42:41 ↗ our accomplishments and the challenges

42:43 ↗ that lay ahead of us and that will be on

42:45 ↗ Thursday morning at the East Ridge

42:47 ↗ Community Church I believe is the

42:50 ↗ location. And is there anything for the

42:53 ↗ good of the order?

42:56 ↗ Looking, looking, looking. Not seeing

42:58 ↗ anything. The next council meeting will

43:00 ↗ be March 2nd, regular city council

43:02 ↗ meeting. Yes, that is only one week

43:04 ↗ away. And on that item, we'll have the

43:06 ↗ Newport Maple to Sunset improvement

43:08 ↗ project, the early learning facility

43:10 ↗ waiver fee we heard about from council

43:12 ↗ member Jen along with the blue fern

43:13 ↗ development fee in lie of frontage

43:15 ↗ improvement agreement. We will then have

43:16 ↗ a March 9th committee of the whole

43:18 ↗ meeting to talk about update our permit

43:20 ↗ process improvements and removing

43:21 ↗ barriers to home building and other

43:23 ↗ projects. And we will now discuss

43:26 ↗ executive session ID1984 executive

43:29 ↗ session property acquisition per

43:31 ↗ RCW42.30.110

43:34 ↗ hyphen parenthesis 1 parenthesis B. The

43:36 ↗ council will now go into executive

43:38 ↗ session to discuss property acquisition

43:41 ↗ and executive sessions are closed to the

43:44 ↗ public. Um we are expecting this

43:48 ↗ executive session to last roughly 10 to

43:49 ↗ 15 minutes. It may be extended. The city

43:52 ↗ council is planning to act after the

43:54 ↗ close session as part of the open

43:56 ↗ meeting. And I'm looking at the council

43:59 ↗ if they need a break or we should just

44:01 ↗ go straight into executive session. We

44:03 ↗ are being efficient with our time. We

44:06 ↗ will go straight into executive session

44:08 ↗ at 7:49

44:10 ↗ p.m. And we will see you back here at

44:11 ↗ roughly 8:00.

47:00 ↗ All right. And for those of you who are

47:01 ↗ with us virtually, I'm going to move us

47:03 ↗ into the practice session now. The

47:05 ↗ council's

47:38 ↗ Makes me feel like I'm back in like

47:40 ↗ school.

47:41 ↗ >> This is going to be small enough

47:42 ↗ portion. It's going to leave you wanting

47:44 ↗ more.

47:45 ↗ >> You're going to be craving additional

47:46 ↗ fluff.

47:47 ↗ >> Do we have to like film us eating it?

47:52 ↗ Yes.

1:00:00 ↗ Hey, we are back in open session at 8:05

1:00:05 ↗ p.m. I'm going to invite parks director

1:00:07 ↗ Jeff Wling to make a short presentation.

1:00:10 ↗ Jeff, it's all you.

1:00:11 ↗ >> Thank you, Mayor. Good evening, council.

1:00:13 ↗ Um, yes. Before you tonight is a request

1:00:16 ↗ uh to seek your authorization to enter

1:00:19 ↗ into a purchase and sale agreement for a

1:00:21 ↗ uh park property. Uh, this would be uh

1:00:24 ↗ known as the Hailstone property. Um, it

1:00:27 ↗ is uh directly um south of Bernston Park

1:00:32 ↗ um and near Confluence Park. Um this is

1:00:35 ↗ a 39 acre parcel. Um um we have been in

1:00:40 ↗ negotiation with the sellers and have um

1:00:43 ↗ agreed upon terms. Those terms um would

1:00:46 ↗ be a sale of this property for $750,000.

1:00:51 ↗ Um the purpose of this property would be

1:00:54 ↗ um for a future trail connection and an

1:00:57 ↗ opportunity to expand Confluence Park

1:00:59 ↗ and connect it to Bernston Park um

1:01:02 ↗ Salmon Run as well as the Juniper Trail

1:01:05 ↗ uh system um here in the Siquad. also

1:01:07 ↗ provides opportunity for further

1:01:09 ↗ riparian habitat along the main stem of

1:01:11 ↗ Isiqua Creek. Uh supporting our salmon

1:01:14 ↗ recovery efforts and our education

1:01:16 ↗ efforts as a community uh and really

1:01:18 ↗ strengthening our goals for trail

1:01:19 ↗ connectivity um throughout Oldtown and

1:01:22 ↗ the valley floor um and really

1:01:24 ↗ furthering our creeks to be vision of of

1:01:27 ↗ connecting our entire park system. Uh

1:01:30 ↗ the purchase price uh will be funded uh

1:01:32 ↗ with two funding sources. Uh we were

1:01:34 ↗ successful in obtaining a grant uh from

1:01:37 ↗ King County Conservation Futures to

1:01:39 ↗ assist us in this effort. Uh that would

1:01:41 ↗ provide roughly $560,000 of funds uh

1:01:44 ↗ leaving $190,000 of funding coming from

1:01:48 ↗ our um um parks and open space

1:01:51 ↗ acquisition fund.

1:01:55 ↗ >> Are there any questions for Jeff?

1:01:59 ↗ Not seeing any. Is there a motion?

1:02:04 ↗ Council President D. Michelle.

1:02:06 ↗ >> Thank you, Mayor. Uh, I moved to

1:02:08 ↗ authorize the mayor to execute a

1:02:11 ↗ purchase and sale agreement and other

1:02:13 ↗ documents necessary to purchase the

1:02:15 ↗ property located at 320 Northwest Holly

1:02:18 ↗ Street, also known as King County Tax

1:02:21 ↗ Parcel 202241900728

1:02:28 ↗ from the Hailstone Revokable Trust for

1:02:30 ↗ the amount of $750,000

1:02:33 ↗ plus closing costs.

1:02:36 ↗ >> Second. Okay, there has been a motion

1:02:38 ↗ and a second. Is there any council

1:02:40 ↗ discussion?

1:02:42 ↗ Council member Walsh.

1:02:44 ↗ >> Thank you. Um I just want to take a

1:02:46 ↗ moment on the record just to recognize

1:02:48 ↗ how much effort this takes in order to

1:02:52 ↗ um pull together some of these deals and

1:02:54 ↗ the recognition that this is a great

1:02:57 ↗ opportunity to connect Confluence Park

1:03:00 ↗ to Bernstein Park and um all of the

1:03:03 ↗ added benefits of that. So, just kudos

1:03:06 ↗ on

1:03:07 ↗ working this toward Yep. toward um

1:03:12 ↗ toward what our council goals and our

1:03:14 ↗ city goals are. Thank you,

1:03:17 ↗ >> Council Mang. Yeah, I want to echo

1:03:19 ↗ everything that council member Walsh

1:03:20 ↗ said and also, you know, give kudos to

1:03:23 ↗ um director Watling and all of the work

1:03:25 ↗ of him and also people, you know, for

1:03:28 ↗ the past three plus decades who have

1:03:30 ↗ really made acquiring land in the flood

1:03:32 ↗ plane of Isqua Creek a big priority. So,

1:03:34 ↗ you know, we had recent flooding last

1:03:36 ↗ year and uh you know, driving around

1:03:38 ↗ after that, we saw in Confluence Park

1:03:40 ↗ there's giant pools of standing water

1:03:42 ↗ and that's really a testament and

1:03:43 ↗ actually not that much flooding

1:03:44 ↗ elsewhere in the city and that's really

1:03:46 ↗ a testament to how you know our city's

1:03:47 ↗ strategy of acquiring land for flood

1:03:50 ↗ plane restoration is actually, you know,

1:03:52 ↗ a resilience to extreme weather events.

1:03:54 ↗ So, it's really exciting to see, you

1:03:56 ↗ know, one more piece of that puzzle

1:03:57 ↗ coming together. This is something that

1:03:59 ↗ takes sustained effort over years and

1:04:00 ↗ decades. our council, you know, uh, for

1:04:04 ↗ the last probably 10 years or so has

1:04:05 ↗ really been like saving money for these

1:04:07 ↗ types of acquisitions so that we're able

1:04:09 ↗ to act quickly when they come up. So,

1:04:10 ↗ very very excited to see this happening.

1:04:13 ↗ Um, and hope to have uh more uh of these

1:04:16 ↗ types of executive sessions soon. I've

1:04:18 ↗ had like three of these in my time on

1:04:19 ↗ council. So, it's it's been it's been

1:04:21 ↗ great.

1:04:22 ↗ >> This was your first one with a fluffern

1:04:23 ↗ nutter, though. Uh, council member

1:04:25 ↗ Adair, uh, I also want to echo the same

1:04:27 ↗ of, you know, amazing work that you've

1:04:29 ↗ all done with your team. And just the

1:04:31 ↗ only thing I would add is additionally

1:04:32 ↗ your work in terms of getting grant

1:04:33 ↗ funding and finding outside sources to

1:04:35 ↗ help pay for these. Obviously, it helps

1:04:37 ↗ the budget, but it's just I know how

1:04:38 ↗ hard that work is and just also want to

1:04:41 ↗ commend you for the success you've done

1:04:42 ↗ there as well.

1:04:46 ↗ >> All right. Excellent. Not seeing any

1:04:48 ↗ other discussion. The motion before the

1:04:50 ↗ council is to authorize the mayor to

1:04:51 ↗ execute a purchase of the sale agreement

1:04:52 ↗ and other documents necessary to

1:04:54 ↗ purchase the property located at 320

1:04:55 ↗ Northwest Holly Street, also known as

1:04:57 ↗ King County Council tax parcel

1:04:59 ↗ 202404190000728

1:05:02 ↗ from the Hailstone Revocable Trust for

1:05:04 ↗ the amount of $750,000

1:05:06 ↗ plus closing cost. All those in favor,

1:05:08 ↗ please say I.

1:05:10 ↗ >> I. I.

1:05:12 ↗ >> All those opposed, nay. And that passes

1:05:16 ↗ unanimously. And that does conclude our

1:05:20 ↗ business today and we are now adjourned

1:05:22 ↗ at 8:10 p.m.

1:05:31 ↗ >> Good night, Council President.

Approved minutes

Extracted from the next meeting's packet, where this meeting's minutes were approved as a consent-calendar attachment.

Open PDF

Attendance

Council / Members (6)

Paul Adair

Barbara de Michele (Attended Virtually)

Kelly Jiang

Russell Joe

Tola Marts

Lindsey Walsh

Staff (2)

Wally Bobkiewicz, City Administrator, Andrea Lehner, Deputy City Administrator

Rachel Bender Turpin, City Attorney

Excused

Kevin Nichols

Motions and votes (3)

approve the consent agenda as presented. . a)

Moved by Council President de Michele · seconded by Deputy Council President Marts

Carried 6-0

In favor: Paul Adair, Barbara de Michele (Attended Virtually), Kelly Jiang, Russell Joe, Tola Marts, Lindsey Walsh

Establish a Council Rules Ad Hoc Committee to consider changes to the Council Rules of Procedure as identified in AB 9137, returning to the full Council at the May 4 City Council meeting with a formal recommendation. EXCUSED Councilmember Nichols ABSENCE: Council President de Michele appoint herself…

Moved by Deputy Council President Marts · seconded by Councilmember Walsh

Carried 6-0

In favor: Adair, de Michele, Jiang, Joe, Marts, Walsh

Authorize the Mayor to execute a purchase and sale agreement and other documents necessary to purchase the property located at 320 NW Holly Street, also known as King County Tax Parcel 20240419000728, from the Hailstone Revocable Trust, for the amount of $750,000 plus closing costs. EXCUSED Councilm…

Moved by Council President de Michele · seconded by Deputy Council President Marts

Carried 6-0

In favor: Adair, de Michele, Jiang, Joe, Marts, Walsh