Seattle City Council Meeting - June 9, 2026: Data Center Moratorium, Seattle Center Bond, and Public Health Director Confirmed
Seattle City Council Meeting - June 9, 2026
The Seattle City Council met on June 9, 2026, at 2:04 PM in Council Chamber, City Hall. The meeting featured extensive public comment, unanimous approval of a one-year moratorium on new data centers, adoption of a resolution to study data center impacts, and a resolution committing to a 2027 bond measure for Seattle Center renovations. The council also confirmed Dr. Sandra Valenciano as Director of Public Health for Seattle and King County.
Consent Calendar
- Minutes of June 2, 2026 (Min 570) were adopted unanimously (9-0).
- Council Bill 121223 (claims payment for May 25–29, 2026) was passed unanimously (9-0).
Public Comments & Testimony
Over 60 speakers addressed the council (54 in-person, 8 remote), with the vast majority speaking in favor of the data center moratorium and the Seattle Center bond measure. Key themes and speakers:
- Data Center Moratorium: Dozens of speakers, including members of Amazon Employees for Climate Justice, Washington AI Resistance, 350 Seattle, and Workers Strike Back, urged the council to pass the moratorium. They cited environmental harms (water and energy consumption, pollution), rising utility costs, job displacement, and the need to regulate AI. Several speakers called for a permanent ban. No speakers opposed the moratorium during public comment.
- Seattle Center Bond: Union representatives (IBEW, Carpenters Union) and community members expressed strong support for Resolution 32205, emphasizing the need for investment in aging infrastructure, job creation, and decarbonization. Rob Johnson (Seattle Center Foundation) noted the last public vote for Seattle Center was in 1991.
- Other Comments: A few speakers raised concerns about homelessness, public safety, and the 301 Virginia Street project. One speaker opposed the data center moratorium's potential impact on a cultural center project.
Discussion Items
- Appointment of Public Health Director: Councilmember Rinck introduced Dr. Sandra Valenciano, a board-certified internist with a Master of Public Health, who previously served as acting director and led DeKalb County Public Health. The council confirmed her appointment unanimously (9-0).
- Resolution 32208 (Retirement of Inactive Legislation): Adopted unanimously (9-0) to clear inactive bills and resolutions from the docket.
- Resolution 32204 (Data Center Study): Councilmember Juarez presented the resolution, which commits to studying impacts on grid capacity, water usage, rates, land use, jobs, and public health. Councilmember Kettle offered an amendment (Amendment A) to expand the study scope to include existing smaller data centers and their uses (e.g., public safety, healthcare). The amendment passed 9-0, and the resolution as amended was adopted 9-0.
- Council Bill 121214 (Data Center Moratorium): Councilmember Lin introduced the ordinance, which imposes a one-year moratorium on new or expanded data centers, defines data centers in zoning code, and establishes a work plan. The council passed it unanimously (9-0). Councilmember Rinck noted that over 98,000 emails were received in support.
- Clerk File 314549 and Council Bill 121220 (Contract Rezone Extension): These items extend a contract rezone for a housing project at 5201 Rainier Avenue South by two years. Councilmember Lin explained the extension is needed due to high interest rates and construction costs. Both were approved unanimously (9-0) after a technical amendment to attach the executed property use agreement.
- Resolution 32205 (Seattle Center Bond): Councilmember Saka presented the resolution, which affirms Seattle Center's importance, requests a capital planning effort from the Mayor, and commits to a bond measure by end of 2027. Councilmember Kettle offered an amendment (Amendment A) to require engagement with adjacent neighborhoods (Queen Anne, Uptown, etc.), which passed 9-0. The resolution as amended was adopted 9-0.
- Other Business: Councilmember Rinck presented a letter to King County Council opposing a proposed transportation benefit district that would cap pass-through funds to Seattle, costing the city an estimated $3 million annually. Eight councilmembers signed the letter. Councilmember Strauss was excused from the July 7, 2026 meeting.
Key Outcomes
- Data Center Moratorium (CB 121214): Passed unanimously (9-0). Effective immediately, a one-year moratorium on new data center applications, with a work plan for permanent regulations.
- Data Center Study (Res 32204): Adopted as amended (9-0). Directs city departments to study impacts and report back.
- Seattle Center Bond Commitment (Res 32205): Adopted as amended (9-0). Council commits to placing a bond measure on the 2027 ballot (likely August or November) to fund capital improvements.
- Public Health Director Confirmed: Dr. Sandra Valenciano confirmed unanimously (9-0).
- Contract Rezone Extension: Granted for 5201 Rainier Avenue South (CF 314549 and CB 121220) unanimously (9-0).
- Letter to King County: Eight councilmembers signed a letter opposing the transportation benefit district cap.
- Next Meeting: June 16, 2026, at 2:00 PM.
Meeting Transcript
Okay, the June 9th meeting of the Seattle City Council come to order. It's 2 03 p.m. I'm Joy Hollingsworth, Council President. Will the clerk please call the roll? Council Member Strauss. Council Member Foster. Here. Councilmember Juarez. Here. Councilmember Kettle. Here. Councilmember Lynn. Here. Council Member Rink. Here. Councilmember Rivera. Councilmember Saka? Here. Council President Hollings. Eight present. Councilmember uh Rivera is excused until she gets here. Colleagues, there's no presentation at this time. Um, and we're gonna transition right into public comment. Uh so the hybrid public comment period is now open. Public comment is limited to items on today's agenda, the introduction referral calendar, and the council's work program. The council cannot accept comments on quasi judicial items or campaign related matters. As a reminder, please note that there will be an opportunity for parties of record only on clerk file 314549 under agenda item number four regarding um the communication um ex party communication, but you must be already a party of the record as well. So, clerk, how many speakers do we have signed up? We have approximately eight in person, I mean, eight remote that aren't all present yet, and I believe 54 in person. Okay, awesome. 54 in person, eight that are online remote. Um, so that means that we have uh 30 to 60, so one minute per speaker, and will you please read the uh instructions for public comment period? Speakers will be called in the order in which they are registered. Speakers will hear a chime when 10 seconds are left of their time. Speakers' mics will be muted if they do not in their comments within the allotted time to allow us to call on the next speaker. We'll begin with our in-person speakers. Awesome. I'm gonna call everyone up by five. So first we have Peter, followed by Darius, then we have uh Daniel, and then uh Shrija. I'm sorry if I mispronounced your name, and then we have Patrick. So we have those five folks coming up. Peter, Darius, Daniel, uh Srija, and Patrick. And you can use either or um microphones as well. Welcome, Peter. Good to see you. Good to see you. Good afternoon, members of the city council. Um, my name is Peter Hasagawa. I'm a resident of District 7, and I'm here on behalf of my 6,000 union electricians, um, and particularly the thousand of them who are currently unemployed, and we're here to ask you to put a bond to renovate and decarbonize Seattle Center on the ballot for voters. Um Seattle Center is currently emitting about 16% of the city of Seattle's own building portfolio's carbon pollution.
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