Seattle City Council meeting summary
At a glance
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Council approved interim zoning changes to expand capacity for transitional encampments; created Arts & Cultural Districts for Columbia Hillman City and Georgetown; passed an SPU ordinance to allow amendments to an interlocal agreement with the King County Flood Control Zone District for South Park flooding preparedness; confirmed several appointments including the Seattle Public Utilities GM and the Director of the Department of Neighborhoods; approved a claims appropriation ordinance and a historic landmark designation for the Woodin House.
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What this means
The Council voted to temporarily loosen some zoning rules so more transitional encampments (short-term, organized sites that provide shelter and services) can operate. They also established two neighborhood arts districts to support local cultural businesses and events, and authorized Seattle Public Utilities to finalize changes to a flood-preparedness agreement for South Park. Residents should expect potential increases in temporary shelter capacity in some areas, neighborhood-level arts programming and supports, and continued city work on local flood response planning.
Key decisions
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- Passed interim zoning ordinance to expand capacity of transitional encampments (CB 121195) as amended.
- Adopted Resolution 32200 creating an Arts and Cultural District in the Columbia Hillman City neighborhood.
- Adopted Resolution 32201 creating an Arts and Cultural District in the Georgetown neighborhood.
- Passed ordinance authorizing Seattle Public Utilities to execute and amend an interlocal agreement with the King County Flood Control Zone District for the South Park Interim Flooding Preparedness and Response Program (CB 121202).
- Confirmed reappointment of Andrew Lee as General Manager and Chief Executive Officer of Seattle Public Utilities (Appt 03494).
- Confirmed appointment of Quynh Pham as Director of the Department of Neighborhoods (Appt 03492).
- Confirmed appointments of Stan Diddams and Gabriel Navarro to the Seattle Public Utilities Customer Review Panel (Appt 03495, Appt 03496).
- Passed an ordinance appropriating funds to pay claims for the week of May 4–8, 2026 (CB 121210).
- Passed ordinance imposing controls and adding the Woodin House to the Table of Historical Landmarks (CB 121197).
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Meeting information
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City Council
Agenda
- CALL TO ORDER
- ROLL CALL
- PRESENTATIONS
- PUBLIC COMMENT
- ADOPTION OF INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL CALENDAR:
- APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
- APPROVAL OF CONSENT CALENDAR
- Journal:
- Bills:
- Appointments:
- GOVERNANCE AND UTILITIES COMMITTEE:
- Appointment of Stan Diddams as member, Seattle Public Utilities Customer Review Panel, for a term to July 31, 2028.
- Appointment of Gabriel Navarro as member, Seattle Public Utilities Customer Review Panel, for a term to July 31, 2028.
- COMMITTEE REPORTS
- GOVERNANCE AND UTILITIES COMMITTEE:
- Reappointment of Andrew Lee as General Manager and Chief Executive Officer of Seattle Public Utilities, for a term to December 31, 2029.
- An ordinance relating to Seattle Public Utilities; authorizing the General Manager and Chief Executive Officer of Seattle Public Utilities, or designee, to execute an amendment to the interlocal agreement between Seattle Public Utilities and the King County Flood Control Zone District for the South Park Interim Flooding Preparedness and Response Program; authorizing the General Manager and Chief Executive Officer of Seattle Public Utilities, or designee, to execute additional amendments to the interlocal agreement between Seattle Public Utilities and the King County Flood Control Zone District for the South Park Interim Flooding Preparedness and Response Program; and ratifying and confirming certain prior acts.
- HOUSING, ARTS, AND CIVIL RIGHTS COMMITTEE:
- A resolution creating an Arts and Cultural District in the Columbia Hillman City neighborhood of Seattle.
- A resolution creating an Arts and Cultural District in the Georgetown neighborhood of Seattle.
- LAND USE AND SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE:
- An ordinance relating to land use and zoning; adopting interim provisions to expand the capacity of transitional encampments; and amending Sections 23.42.054 and 23.42.056 of the Seattle Municipal Code.
- LIBRARIES, EDUCATION, AND NEIGHBORHOODS COMMITTEE:
- Appointment of Quynh Pham as Director of the Department of Neighborhoods, for a term to December 31, 2029.
- AN ORDINANCE relating to historic preservation; imposing controls upon the Woodin House, a landmark designated by the Landmarks Preservation Board under Chapter 25.12 of the Seattle Municipal Code, and adding it to the Table of Historical Landmarks contained in Chapter 25.32 of the Seattle Municipal Code.
- ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR
- ADOPTION OF OTHER RESOLUTIONS
- OTHER BUSINESS
- ADJOURNMENT
- May 12, 2026
- An ordinance appropriating money to pay certain claims for the week of May 4, 2026, through May 8, 2026, and ordering the payment thereof; and ratifying and confirming certain prior acts.
- May 19, 2026
- Agenda Item
- _____________________________________________________ Jodee Schwinn, Deputy City Clerk Signed by me in Open Session, upon approval of the Council, on June 2, 2026. _____________________________________________________ Joy Hollingsworth, Council President of the City Council Attachment: Att 1 - Action 1 of CB 121195 Attachment: Att 2 - Action 2 of CB 121195 Attachment: Att 3 - Action 3 of CB 121195
- Agenda Item
- Agenda Item
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