Seattle Libraries, Education, and Neighborhoods Committee Meeting – May 13, 2026
Seattle Libraries, Education, and Neighborhoods Committee Meeting – May 13, 2026
The Libraries, Education, and Neighborhoods Committee of the Seattle City Council met on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at 9:31 AM in the Council Chamber at City Hall. Chaired by Councilmember Maritza Rivera, the committee considered two primary agenda items: the confirmation of Quynh Pham as Director of the Department of Neighborhoods and the landmark designation of the Woodin House in Georgetown. Four councilmembers were present (Rivera, Foster, Lin, Rinck); Vice-Chair Joy Hollingsworth was excused. The meeting adjourned at 10:04 AM.
Public Comments & Testimony
- John Bennett (Georgetown resident, 30-year preservation advocate) urged support for landmarking the Woodin House, emphasizing Georgetown's historical significance as the first non-native settlement in the Seattle area.
- Scott Boone (owner and resident, third-generation steward) shared his grandfather’s history as a physician who built the house in 1904 and requested approval of the landmark designation.
- Sarah Martin (public historian, author of the landmark nomination) supported the ordinance, noting the house’s survival amid rapid redevelopment and its importance as a community anchor.
- Eugenia Wu (Historic Seattle) spoke in favor of both the Woodin House designation and Quynh Pham’s appointment. She highlighted that only about half of one percent of Seattle parcels are designated landmarks, and that the owner voluntarily sought nomination.
- Joshua Park (Seattle Chinatown International District Preservation Development Authority) voiced strong support for Quynh Pham’s appointment, citing her work on the Little Saigon Landmark Project and her ability to amplify marginalized voices.
- Dr. Breck Lebeg (Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility, Air Show Climate Action Coalition) requested the council oppose permits for Blue Angels flyovers during Seafair, citing health harms from noise (110 decibels recorded at Genesee Park), air pollution impacts on a health-disparity community, and violation of park noise rules.
Discussion Items
- Appointment of Quynh Pham as Director of the Department of Neighborhoods – Acting Director Pham appeared before the committee for a second hearing. She outlined her focus on deepening community relationships, aligning resources, and assessing impact. Councilmembers praised her community organizing background and collaborative approach. No additional questions were raised, and the committee voted unanimously to recommend confirmation.
- Council Bill 121197 – Woodin House Landmark Designation – Erin Doherty (Department of Neighborhoods) presented the property at 5801 Corson Avenue South in Georgetown. The house was built in 1904 for Dr. Scott Woodin and Imogene Huntsman Woodin, both of whom worked at the nearby King County Hospital. The Landmarks Preservation Board designated the site under four of six standards (B, C, D, F) on November 6, 2024. The ordinance imposes controls and adds the property to the Table of Historical Landmarks. The house is the sixth designated landmark in Georgetown, joining Hat and Boots, the Seattle Brewing and Malting Company, the Georgetown Steam Plant, the Steam Plant Pump House, and old Georgetown City Hall. Historic features include the site, exterior, portions of the first floor, and some second-floor interior. The house was moved 20 feet west in the 1960s due to I-5 construction.
Key Outcomes
- Appointment of Quynh Pham – The committee voted 4–0 to recommend confirmation. The appointment will proceed to the full City Council on May 19, 2026, for final consideration.
- Council Bill 121197 (Woodin House) – The committee voted 4–0 to recommend passage. The bill will be forwarded to the May 19 City Council meeting for final adoption.
- No consent calendar items were presented; the agenda was adopted without objection.
Meeting Transcript
The May 13th, 2026 meeting of the Library's Education and Neighborhoods Committee will come to order. It's 9 31. I'm Maritza Rivera, Chair of the Committee. Will the click please call the roll? Councilmember Foster. Here. Councilmember Lynn. Present. Councilmember Rink. Present. Chair Rivera. Present. There are four council members present. Thank you, Clerk. Please note for the record that Council President and Vice Chair Hollingsworth is excused from today's meeting. Good morning, colleagues and those of you in chambers and watching on the Seattle Channel. Today we'll have our second hearing in the confirmation process for the Department of Neighborhoods Acting Director Quinn Pham. Acting Director Fam's uh written responses to the questions were sent after our last committee meeting, and they were shared with you. I believe last yesterday or today. And then today we'll have an opportunity to discuss her responses or any questions, additional questions you might have. We also have the Department of Neighborhoods here today to present a piece of legislation regarding the historic landmarking of the wooden house in Seattle's Georgetown neighborhood. Before we get into Director Pham's confirmation, we'll begin with public comment. On to today's agenda. If there's no objection, the agenda will be adopted. Hearing no objection, the agenda is adopted. We'll now open that public hybrid comment period. Public comment should relate to items on the agenda or within the purview of this committee. Clerk, how many speakers are signed up today? Currently, we have four in-person speakers and two remote speakers. Thank you, Clerk. Each speaker will have two minutes. Clerk, can you please read the public comment instructions? The public comment period will be moderated in the following manner. The public comment period is up to 60 minutes. Each speaker will have two minutes. Speakers will be called in the order in which they are registered. We will start with in-person speakers first, then remote speakers until the public comment period has ended. Speakers will hear a chime when 10 seconds are left of their time. The public comment period is now open. We will begin with the first speaker on the list. All right, we will have um all the mics are uh operational, so please feel free when your name is called to just step up to any one of the mics. Um John Bennett, then followed by Scott Boone, Sarah Martin, and Eugenia Wu. Welcome. Welcome, John. Thank you. Hello, my name's John Bennett. I've spent the last 30 years of my life in Georgetown preserving and restoring it. And um, I'm gonna just be short and quick here and sweet, but um uh I'll give part of my my Georgetown historic walking tour to you to you to start with. And so most people, if you ask them who are the first non-native settlers in uh our area, they everyone would say, Oh, I went to elementary school. I know that's just the Denny Party.
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