Seattle City Council Meeting: May 12, 2026

The Seattle City Council held its regular meeting on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, at 2:04 PM in Council Chamber, City Hall. Presided over by Council President Joy Hollingsworth, the meeting included a proclamation recognizing May 2026 as Bike Everywhere Month, public testimony from 19 speakers, and unanimous passage of three committee-reported bills: repealing residential allowances in the Stadium Transition Area Overlay District, authorizing World Cup-related agreements and grants, and establishing shared streets in the Seattle Municipal Code. A motion to suspend rules for a late amendment on the shared streets bill failed on a 5–4 vote.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes of May 5, 2026 (Min 567) were adopted unanimously (7–0, with two members late).
• Council Bill 121206, appropriating funds to pay certain claims for the week of April 27 through May 1, 2026, was passed on the consent calendar by a 7–0 vote.

Public Comments & Testimony

19 individuals addressed the Council (16 in-person, 3 remote). Key positions included:

• Ruth Dight (Friends of Queen Anne) urged a moderate approach to upzoning and criticized lack of public input.
• Jan Johnson (Panama Hotel owner) advocated for preserving the American Hotel as a youth hostel and called for city support for small businesses.
• Nick Sten (ILWU) opposed residential development in the industrial district, citing the port’s critical role for Washington’s economy and the Growth Management Hearings Board ruling.
• Kurt Nicotelli (Spirit Transport Systems) supported the repeal of Ordinance 127191, warning that housing in the SODO District would conflict with Vision Zero and harm freight mobility.
• Ivan G., Dom, Harrison Hoyt, Anitra Freeman, Orin Boone (all from Share/Wheel) requested more funding and long-term sites for shelters, noting they currently turn people away.
• Yvette Dinish called for more security cameras in her neighborhood and praised public safety efforts.
• Aaron Tullock (FMS Global Strategies) urged investments in the Central District for homeownership, small businesses, and violence prevention.
• Howard Gale criticized the council’s treatment of victims in an earlier public safety meeting, leading to a brief recess.
• Becka (Big C Church) expressed support and offered partnership.
• Nathan defended public accountability and criticized council actions.
• Scott Courtright (hay exporter from Moses Lake) opposed residential rezoning in the industrial area, emphasizing the port’s statewide economic importance.
• Rose raised concerns about the murder of a trans woman at UW and called for city action.
• David Haines advocated for transit signal priority and better policing.

Discussion Items

1. Proclamation – Bike Everywhere Month (May 2026): Councilmember Rob Saka presented the proclamation. Tyler Vasquez (Cascade Bicycle Club) and Clara Cantor (Seattle Streets Alliance) spoke, highlighting Seattle’s 31 miles of protected bike lanes and 55 miles of neighborhood greenways, and the $133 million transportation levy investment. All nine councilmembers signed the proclamation.

2. Land Use and Sustainability Committee – CB 121171: An ordinance repealing Ordinance 127191, which had allowed residential use in the Stadium Transition Area Overlay District. Committee Chair Eddie Lin explained the repeal was necessary to comply with the Growth Management Hearings Board order. The committee had voted 5–0 to pass. Councilmembers Rivera and Saka noted their votes were based on procedural compliance, not a change in their substantive positions. Passed 9–0.

3. Finance, Native Communities, and Tribal Governments Committee – CB 121201: An ordinance related to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Committee Chair Dan Strauss outlined the components: accepting a $1 million contribution from the local organizing committee (not appropriated now), a $15 million grant for safety and security, and a $2.1 million grant for counter-drone personnel and training. Passed 9–0.

4. Transportation, Waterfront, and Seattle Center Committee – CB 121176: An ordinance adding a new Chapter 11.45 to the Seattle Municipal Code to establish shared streets (vehicle speed limit 10 mph, pedestrian/bike priority). Councilmember Strauss detailed the legislation’s history from 2021 pandemic initiatives in Ballard through state legislation (SB 5595, 2025). A late amendment by Councilmember Rivera would have required SDOT to report planned shared street designations to council. A procedural motion to suspend rules for the amendment failed (5–4 in favor, but 2/3 required; the vote was 5 aye, 4 no, so the motion failed). Councilmembers discussed transparency versus expediting safety projects. The bill then passed 9–0.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Calendar adopted (7–0).
• CB 121171 (Stadium Transition Area Overlay repeal) passed 9–0.
• CB 121201 (World Cup funding) passed 9–0.
• CB 121176 (Shared streets) passed 9–0; the motion to suspend rules for a late amendment failed 5–4.
• Councilmember Strauss provided a brief update on Sound Transit’s Ballard-to-West Seattle alignment process, encouraging colleagues to testify.
• The meeting was adjourned at 3:52 PM. Next meeting scheduled for May 19, 2026, at 2:00 PM.