OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Seattle City Council Meeting - June 23, 2026: Proclamations, Public Comment on Community Passageways, and Budget Approvals

City Council — Tuesday, June 23, 2026
BodySeattle, Washington
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, June 23, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:31:48
Transcript — Verbatim
0:17

All right, good afternoon.

0:18

The June 23rd, 2026 meeting of the Seattle City Council will come to order.

0:23

It is 2 03 p.m.

0:24

I am Joy Hollingsworth, Council President.

0:26

Will the clerk please call the roll?

0:28

Councilmember Juarez here.

0:30

Councilmember Kettle.

0:33

Here.

0:34

Councilmember Lynn.

0:35

Here.

0:36

Councilmember Rink?

0:37

Here.

0:37

Councilmember Rivera.

0:40

Councilmember Saka.

0:41

Here.

0:42

Councilmember Foster.

0:44

Here.

0:44

Council President Hollingshorse.

0:46

Here.

0:46

Seven present.

0:47

Awesome.

0:48

And if there's no objection, Councilmember Rivera will be excused today from council meeting.

0:53

Hearing no objection, Councilmember Rivera is excused today, and then also Councilmember Strauss is excused today as well.

1:01

Colleagues, good afternoon.

1:04

Today we will present a proclamation recognizing June 23rd, 2026 to be Horace Lorenzo Anderson Jr.

1:12

Day.

1:38

And I'm a little emotional, so I apologize.

1:43

I'm going to take my time on this.

1:46

For her family, and Horace Lorenzo Anderson Jr., who was gunned down in June 2020 on Capitol Hill.

1:56

He was described by his friends and family as a kind and sweet soul.

2:00

He graduated interagency academy's youth education program, and he loved basketball.

2:06

He also loved to make music, spending time to write lyrics and develop hip hop songs.

2:13

He was focused on, you know, he wanted what we all want, colleagues, getting stable house, getting a job.

2:20

He wanted to start a family.

2:22

This proclamation is not only honoring his life, but it's also the impact he had since his passing in 2020.

2:30

His mother, Miss Donita Sinclair, who is with us today, just like the other families who we've honored this month, have turned their pain into progress.

2:47

And this is a grassroots organization based in Seattle.

2:50

It operates as a vital support network and advocacy group for mothers who have lost children to gun violence.

2:58

And we've seen Miss Sinclair advocate in the news within the community is often the first person to reach out to moms, the parents, the families who've been impacted by gun violence to help provide some type of healing and comfort during this time, during this pain.

3:15

So we're honored to be able to present this proclamation, honoring her son, Horace Lorenzo Anderson Jr.

3:22

for his life and also we got us moms and the work that has been done in our community from healing circles to comfort baskets to attending funerals to advocacy, helping to shape policy and being a voice of live experience for people who have been impacted by uh gun violence, and it's it's really a blessing to have colleagues.

3:46

I humbly ask for your support in the signatures for this proclamation, and if there's no other comments, um I'm gonna call on the clerk so we can sign this proclamation, and then we're gonna ask the family uh to speak as well as they accept this, and we'll suspend the rules uh to do that.

4:03

But we are honored to have the family here.

4:08

I know we have family and friends that are here uh to honor to honor Horace's life, uh, but also bring awareness to uh gun violence that has impacted our community and the laws that we sit up here and make, how it impacts you all in this audience and what we need to do better as city council, what we need to do better as Mayor's Office, what we need to do better as legislators as we are making uh these laws uh and trying to figure out how we continue to fight this one day at a time.

4:42

So um want to thank you all for being here.

4:44

I will pause uh to see if uh any of my colleagues have anything uh they want to add to this, but if not, we will call the roll.

4:54

Councilmember Kettle.

4:57

Thank you, Council President.

4:58

I just wanted to say, and I've made this point to Council President, but I think it's important.

5:05

Um Memorial Day, I gave a speech at the Garden Remembrance, and Mayor Major Savino was killed during the Iran War.

5:13

She was an Air Force pilot in the KC 135, and I gave a speech at that Memorial Day, and her parents were at um Arlington, but we had 10 family members in front, and I was speaking to them.

5:27

And one of the things I said to them is based on my experience in Iraq, is that and others that have been killed in service, is that there's that fear that they're lost, their loved one that's been lost is being forgotten.

5:42

One of the things I said in that speech is that they don't, they're not forgotten, they're not forgotten.

5:49

I remember all the time, November 8th, 2004, when two were killed, or April 26, 2004, when they were killed, and on Memorial Day.

5:57

They're always remembered on those days, and so it's the same here too, because it's easy to say, hey, everybody's forgotten.

6:07

They're moving on with their lives and so forth.

6:10

But I think it's important to take time and say hey, and have somebody like me from like a different angle in terms of like what I said to Major Savino's family, that she's not gonna be forgotten.

6:23

It's been 22 years since the units, the the four people in my unit in Iraq that were killed.

6:29

It's like yesterday, and so uh deep inside.

6:33

I think it's important to remember that your lost loved ones will not be forgotten because there's so many people, and here's the thing too that I made.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Youth Programs█████████████████████████████████33%
Miscellaneous█████████████████████████25%
Public Safety████████████████████20%
Procedural██████████10%
Arts And Culture███████7%
Community Engagement██2%
LGBTQ Rights██2%
Fiscal Sustainability█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Seattle City Council Meeting – June 23, 2026

The Seattle City Council met on June 23, 2026, at 2:03 PM in Council Chamber with 7 members present (Foster, Hollingsworth, Juarez, Kettle, Lin, Rinck, Saka) and members Rivera and Strauss excused. The meeting featured a proclamation declaring Horace Lorenzo Anderson Jr. Day, extensive public testimony on funding for Community Passageways, approval of the consent calendar, passage of two budget carry-forward ordinances, and additional proclamations for Martha Neuman Day and Seattle Storm Day. The council entered executive session at 3:33 PM and adjourned at 4:23 PM.

Proclamations

  • Horace Lorenzo Anderson Jr. Day (June 23, 2026): Council President Hollingsworth presented a proclamation honoring Horace Lorenzo Anderson Jr., who was killed by gun violence in 2020. Family members and community advocates spoke about the impact of gun violence and the work of Donita Sinclair, his mother, in supporting other families. Councilmember Kettle expressed that lost loved ones are not forgotten. The proclamation was signed unanimously by the 7 present members.
  • Martha Neuman Day (July 10, 2026): A proclamation recognizing Martha Neuman’s over 25 years of government service, including at Seattle Public Utilities. Unanimously signed.
  • Seattle Storm Day (June 26, 2026): Councilmember Foster presented a proclamation celebrating the Seattle Storm’s four championships, new rookies, women-led ownership, and community outreach. Councilmembers Juarez and Kettle praised the team’s impact. Unanimously signed.

Public Comments & Testimony

Over 30 individuals addressed the council, most speaking in support of continued funding for Community Passageways, a community‑based violence prevention and youth support organization. Key points:

  • Multiple youth participants (Angel Depradine, Kya Lee, Javion Jackson, Camryn Johnson, Senetrio Tillis, Solomon, and others) shared personal stories of how Community Passageways provided mentorship, basic needs, school support, and violence de‑escalation, enabling them to graduate, stay safe, and pursue goals.
  • Parents and community members (Crystal Lee, Ingrid Chapman, Cara Mathison, Christine King, Catherine Parker, Diane Tiao, Amity Bjork, and others) described the program’s critical role in keeping youth safe, especially after recent shootings, and urged the council to find sustainable funding.
  • Adults working with Community Passageways (Tashia Beasley, Brandon Hill, Mateya Brown, Noah Harper, Charles Griffin, Thomas Jackson) detailed their daily work in conflict mediation, resource navigation, and safe passage corridors, citing successful interventions (e.g., de‑escalating a potential gang confrontation involving 80‑100 people at Rainier Beach Community Center).
  • Other comments: Ron Hornung urged progress on the Aurora rebuild; Clive Hayward raised waterfront safety concerns during FIFA; Howard Gale called for reparations for police violence victims; and one speaker (Cy, via remote) opposed funding Community Passageways, citing accountability concerns.
  • Councilmember Hollingsworth acknowledged the importance of the testimony and noted Councilmember Lin is working with the Mayor’s office on funding solutions.

Consent Calendar

The consent calendar was adopted by a 7‑0 vote, including:

  • Approval of June 16, 2026 meeting minutes.
  • CB 121235: Payment of claims for June 8‑12, 2026.
  • CB 121228: Authorizing a five‑year agreement with Washington State Ferries for the Pier 48/Colman Dock Electrification Project.
  • CB 121229: Authorizing Amendment 6 to the King County Conservation Futures Interlocal Agreement and deposit of 2025 and 2026 levy proceeds.
  • CB 121230: Authorizing acquisition of property in the Delridge neighborhood for preservation and expansion of Delridge Native Forest, including potential Sound Transit‑related greenspace conversions.
  • Res 32206: Approving Seattle City Light’s 2026 Integrated Resource Plan for the biennium September 2026 – August 2028.
  • Appointments: Jamie Madden, Sophia Benalfew, Diana Paredes to the Equitable Development Initiative Advisory Board; H Bradley Kahn, Phillip Meng, Rebecca J. Rasch, James Williams to the Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners.

Discussion Items

Committee Reports – Budget Ordinances (Finance, Native Communities, and Tribal Governments Committee):

  • CB 121208 (2025 Budget Amendment): An ordinance making adjustments to the 2025 adopted budget, including $8.1 million in appropriations (primarily $5.9 million for higher‑than‑expected medical/dental claims). Passed 7‑0.
  • CB 121209 (2026 Budget Carry‑Forward): An ordinance reappropriating $138 million in unspent budget authority from 2025 into 2026, mainly for Office of Planning and Community Development (Equitable Development Initiative) and Office of Housing projects. Passed 7‑0. Both bills were approved unanimously in committee and on the floor with no further discussion.

Key Outcomes

  • Proclamations signed unanimously: Horace Lorenzo Anderson Jr. Day (June 23, 2026), Martha Neuman Day (July 10, 2026), Seattle Storm Day (June 26, 2026).
  • Consent calendar adopted by a vote of 7‑0, approving all listed bills, resolution, and appointments.
  • 2025 Budget Amendment (CB 121208) passed 7‑0.
  • 2026 Budget Carry‑Forward (CB 121209) passed 7‑0.
  • Executive session was held from 3:33 PM to 4:23 PM to discuss pending litigation.
  • Next steps: Council will continue working on funding for Community Passageways; Councilmember Lin is coordinating with the Mayor’s office.

Meeting Transcript

All right, good afternoon. The June 23rd, 2026 meeting of the Seattle City Council will come to order. It is 2 03 p.m. I am Joy Hollingsworth, Council President. Will the clerk please call the roll? Councilmember Juarez here. Councilmember Kettle. Here. Councilmember Lynn. Here. Councilmember Rink? Here. Councilmember Rivera. Councilmember Saka. Here. Councilmember Foster. Here. Council President Hollingshorse. Here. Seven present. Awesome. And if there's no objection, Councilmember Rivera will be excused today from council meeting. Hearing no objection, Councilmember Rivera is excused today, and then also Councilmember Strauss is excused today as well. Colleagues, good afternoon. Today we will present a proclamation recognizing June 23rd, 2026 to be Horace Lorenzo Anderson Jr. Day. And I'm a little emotional, so I apologize. I'm going to take my time on this. For her family, and Horace Lorenzo Anderson Jr., who was gunned down in June 2020 on Capitol Hill. He was described by his friends and family as a kind and sweet soul. He graduated interagency academy's youth education program, and he loved basketball. He also loved to make music, spending time to write lyrics and develop hip hop songs. He was focused on, you know, he wanted what we all want, colleagues, getting stable house, getting a job. He wanted to start a family. This proclamation is not only honoring his life, but it's also the impact he had since his passing in 2020. His mother, Miss Donita Sinclair, who is with us today, just like the other families who we've honored this month, have turned their pain into progress. And this is a grassroots organization based in Seattle. It operates as a vital support network and advocacy group for mothers who have lost children to gun violence. And we've seen Miss Sinclair advocate in the news within the community is often the first person to reach out to moms, the parents, the families who've been impacted by gun violence to help provide some type of healing and comfort during this time, during this pain. So we're honored to be able to present this proclamation, honoring her son, Horace Lorenzo Anderson Jr. for his life and also we got us moms and the work that has been done in our community from healing circles to comfort baskets to attending funerals to advocacy, helping to shape policy and being a voice of live experience for people who have been impacted by uh gun violence, and it's it's really a blessing to have colleagues. I humbly ask for your support in the signatures for this proclamation, and if there's no other comments, um I'm gonna call on the clerk so we can sign this proclamation, and then we're gonna ask the family uh to speak as well as they accept this, and we'll suspend the rules uh to do that. But we are honored to have the family here. I know we have family and friends that are here uh to honor to honor Horace's life, uh, but also bring awareness to uh gun violence that has impacted our community and the laws that we sit up here and make, how it impacts you all in this audience and what we need to do better as city council, what we need to do better as Mayor's Office, what we need to do better as legislators as we are making uh these laws uh and trying to figure out how we continue to fight this one day at a time. So um want to thank you all for being here. I will pause uh to see if uh any of my colleagues have anything uh they want to add to this, but if not, we will call the roll. Councilmember Kettle. Thank you, Council President. I just wanted to say, and I've made this point to Council President, but I think it's important. Um Memorial Day, I gave a speech at the Garden Remembrance, and Mayor Major Savino was killed during the Iran War.

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