Seattle Governance & Utilities Committee Meeting – April 9, 2026
Seattle Governance and Utilities Committee Meeting – April 9, 2026
The Governance and Utilities Committee met on Thursday, April 9, 2026 from 9:33 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in the Council Chamber at Seattle City Hall. Council President Joy Hollingsworth chaired the meeting. Members present: Hollingsworth, Debora Juarez, Maritza Rivera, Dan Strauss. Robert Kettle was excused. The committee considered three appointments to the Seattle Ethics and Elections Commission, heard a presentation on a homemade food waste program, and voted on two public utility ordinances. A briefing on the 2026 Stormwater Code Update was also held, with no vote taken.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of the agenda (unanimous). The committee recessed briefly to resolve technical issues with remote public comment.
Public Comments & Testimony
Seven members of the public testified, all addressing the 2026 Stormwater Code Update (CB 121190).
- June Blue Spruce urged the council not to relax environmental protections, arguing that mature trees are critical for stormwater management and that the city should implement trees as best management practices (BMPs) as other Washington cities and Boston have done.
- Sandy Shetler (Tree Action Seattle) asked that the code recognize trees for stormwater credit, noting that the iTree formula is widely used and that the city had previously said Ecology would require it.
- Ruth Williams (Thornton Creek Alliance) appreciated steps to remove PCBs but opposed raising the flow control threshold from 2,000 to 5,000 square feet, and urged support for state salmon recovery efforts.
- David Glogger (District 5 resident) criticized repeated claims that relaxing codes would produce affordable housing, arguing that development has resulted in tree loss and environmental degradation.
- Leah Hall (Urban Forestry Commission member speaking as a resident) called for a clear hierarchy preserving existing trees, requiring BMPs for tire-derived pollutants, and narrowing exemptions for public works.
- Julie described a stormwater issue near her property after tree removal on a development site and requested a water study.
- Jennifer (last name unclear) echoed calls for tree BMPs, criticized the short notice for the meeting, and pointed to inaccuracies in the SEPA checklist regarding endangered species.
- Susan highlighted combined sewer overflows, nitrogen levels in Puget Sound, and the cost burden on ratepayers, asking that the bill be amended to address damage from development.
Discussion Items
1. Appointments to the Seattle Ethics and Elections Commission (Appt 034701, 034722, 034733)
Wayne Barnett, Executive Director of the Commission, presented three appointees: Evan M. Smith (term to 2027), Andrea Lino (term to 2028), and Anita Khandelwal (term to 2026). Smith was nominated by Council President Hollingsworth and Councilmember Rivera. Lino is an immigration lawyer; Khandelwal is a lawyer with public defender experience. The committee voted unanimously (4-0) to recommend confirmation. The appointments will go to full council on April 14, 2026.
2. Homemade Food Waste Program Presentation (Inf 2874)
Joel Gamoran (CEO, Homemade) and Sara Osborne (Public Affairs Director, Safeway, speaking personally) presented a proposal for a "Good Food Guidance" program using AI-powered text messaging and videos to help households reduce food waste, save money, and cook healthier meals. The program would integrate with existing food assistance programs like Fresh Bucks and Medicaid food waivers. Councilmembers discussed the potential to centralize food security efforts, the need to avoid stigmatizing food choices, and the importance of addressing childhood eating disorders. No vote was taken; it was an informational briefing.
3. Slope Stabilization Easements (CB 121192)
SPU presented an ordinance to accept two permanent easements on private property at 3822 and 3832 NE 91st Street in the Wedgewood neighborhood for a reinforced soil slope to stabilize a failing slope and failed culvert. The easements were acquired for a combined fair market value of $9,900 from willing sellers. The committee passed the ordinance 3-0 (Rivera, Juarez, Strauss; Hollingsworth voted yes; Kettle absent). Funded from the Drainage and Wastewater Fund.
4. Acquisition for Pump Station 4 Replacement (CB 121193)
SPU presented an ordinance to authorize acquisition (by negotiation or eminent domain) of two parcels on South Director Street in Rainier Beach for a new pump station to replace the existing undersized one. The purchase price is $760,000 ($380,000 each) from willing sellers. The project is included in the existing CIP and rates. The committee passed the ordinance 3-0.
5. 2026 Stormwater Code Update (CB 121190)
Kevin Burrell (SPU) briefed the committee on the required five-year update to ensure compliance with the state's 2024-2029 Phase 1 Municipal Stormwater Permit. Key updates include new requirements from Ecology, technical clarifications, and adjustments to flow control standards for small areas near Bitter Lake, Haller Lake, and Green Lake – allowing alternatives that treat and clean stormwater rather than solely controlling volume. SPU noted that trees are included as a BMP and credit is given, but they chose not to be prescriptive. Over 550 public comments were received. The committee did not vote; a memo will be provided before the next meeting on May 14, 2026.
Key Outcomes
- Appointments confirmed: Committee recommended confirmation of all three appointees to the Ethics and Elections Commission (unanimous, 4-0).
- CB 121192 passed: Slope stabilization easements accepted (3-0).
- CB 121193 passed: Pump Station 4 property acquisition authorized (3-0).
- Stormwater Code Update: Briefing completed; no vote. Further discussion and a memo from central staff are scheduled for the May 14, 2026 committee meeting.
- Next meeting: May 14, 2026 at 9:30 a.m.
Meeting Transcript
Really? You make it look easy. Good morning. The April ninth meeting of the Governance and Utilities Committee will come to order. It is nine thirty-three A.M. I'm Joy Hollingsworth, your committee chair. Will the clerk please call the roll? Councilmember McCattle. Councilmember Juarez. Here. Council Mayor. Member Barbera. Present. Councilmember Strauss. Here. And Chair Hollingsworth. Here. Chair, there are four present. And yes, chair, there are four council members present. Thank you. Thank you, Clerk. Uh, Councilmember Kettle is excused for today. Welcome to the governance and utilities committee. We have a packed agenda today, so we're looking forward to all the items on the agenda. So thank you all who showed up. I don't know if we I know that we're having a little technical difficulties with our online uh sign-up, so looking forward to hearing our public commenters. Um, we're gonna now consider the agenda, and if there's no objection, the agenda will be adopted. Hearing none, the agenda is adopted. With that, we're gonna now open the hybrid public comment period. Public comments should be related to the items on today's agenda or be within the purview of the committee. Clerk, how many speakers do we have? Currently, we have zero in-person speakers and four remote speakers. Awesome. Every speaker will get two minutes, but I will read the instructions. Public comment will be moderated in the following manner. Speakers will be called in the order in which they register on the council's website and the sign-up sheet available here in council chambers. Starting with the speakers in person first, we have none, so we're gonna jump straight to online. Uh, if you have not registered to speak, would like to, you can sign up before the end of the public comment period. When speaking, please begin by stating your name and the item you are addressing. Speakers will hear a chime with ten seconds or less. Uh, excuse me, at ten seconds. And you thank you. That's the sound. You will, you might hear that sound. Um, and that is ten seconds. Uh, and you still have time. All right. Uh, public comment period is now open. We're going to begin with the first speakers on the list. I'm looking online.
openpublica.com