Seattle City Council Meeting: June 30, 2026 – Housing, Street Safety, and Public Comment

The Seattle City Council met on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, at 2:04 PM in Council Chamber, City Hall. All nine councilmembers were present. The meeting lasted until 3:41 PM and included a lengthy public comment period (24 speakers), adoption of routine items, and passage of six bills, including emergency street-closure authority for public safety and multiple affordable housing measures.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes of June 23, 2026 (Min 5731) were approved unanimously.
• CB 121239 (payment of claims for June 15–19, 2026) passed 9–0.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Yvette Dinish commented on Lake Washington Boulevard closure and encouraged civic engagement.
• Victoria Palmer (King County Republican Party board) opposed the mayor’s trans/queer interdepartmental team, calling it a misuse of taxpayer funds.
• Ruth Berge (Ballard resident) questioned the transgender sanctuary proposal, citing budget shortfalls and other local needs; asked for sanctuary for biological women.
• Clive Hayward (street performer) reported being excluded from waterfront for one day without review, claiming First Amendment burden.
• Aliesha Ruiz (Habitat for Humanity) supported CB 121218, CB 121237, and CB 121238 for affordable housing and homeownership.
• Keith Carpenter (Epic Life Church pastor) commended initial Aurora Avenue safety measures but urged permanent solutions; highlighted human trafficking.
• Paul Tomlinson described a neighborhood cleanup and thanked Council President Hollingsworth.
• Glen R. Stockwell (Washington State Economic Development chair) asked council to help secure $5 billion for Columbia Basin project and reverse millionaire tax.
• Max Baker criticized slow street safety improvements after cyclist deaths; called for urgency.
• Gabriel Dias raised police accountability issues (OPA) and called for independent investigation of protest policing.
• Howard Gale cited police killings of people in crisis; asked for independent audit of accountability system.
• Bennett Haselton described being assaulted at a protest; linked violence to inflammatory speech.
• Gabriel Neuman (SDA – LGBTQ+ business association) supported street-closure bill (CB 121233) as a public safety tool.
• Jen Carl (Capitol Hill safety coordinator) echoed support for street closures and community crisis responder legislation.
• Colin Morgan-Cross (Mercy Housing NW) testified in favor of CB 121236 (ground lease for 241 affordable units at Mount Baker).
• Peter Orr (North Aurora resident) thanked council for CB 121233 and urged continued action.
• Paula Sardinas (FMS Global Strategies/WBBA) opposed reducing MHA fees, warning of lost affordable housing revenue ($10–20 million).
• Aaron Tulloch (FMS Global Strategies) also opposed MHA reduction, citing displacement of Black and Brown communities.
• Rose Legionaires (trans advocate) highlighted Supreme Court decisions against transgender rights and urged support for sanctuary declaration.
• Joe Kunzler commented on KCHRA, tiny homes, trans athletes, anti-Semitism, and praised transportation improvements.

Discussion Items

Public Safety Committee:

• CB 121233 – Emergency ordinance authorizing SDOT and SPD to close public streets on the police chief’s recommendation to prevent criminal activity (gun violence, trafficking, prostitution). Prime sponsor Councilmember Juarez noted an 8% increase in gun violence in May, and that neighbors had blocked streets themselves in late May. The bill passed the full council 9–0 after brief remarks from Juarez, Kettle, Strauss, Rivera, and Hollingsworth.
• CB 121232 – Ordinance describing duties of Community Crisis Responder team within the CARE Department. Councilmember Kettle explained it aligns with the Safer Seattle strategic framework for alternative response. Passed 9–0.

Housing, Arts, and Civil Rights Committee:

• CB 121218 – Update to 2023 Seattle Housing Levy Administrative and Financial Plan for 2026–2028, including technical clarifications on debt restructuring and stabilization loans. Passed 9–0.
• CB 121236 – Ground lease to MBTOD Phase One LLLP (Mercy Housing NW and El Centro de la Raza) for 241 affordable units (239 affordable) with a UW early learning campus and commercial space at 2929 27th Ave S. Councilmember Lynn noted the property was transferred from UW at no cost. A technical amendment (Amendment A) was adopted 9–0; the bill as amended passed 9–0.
• CB 121237 – Montlake Homes site: places acquired property (former gas station) under Office of Housing jurisdiction for affordable homeownership development; RFP process. Passed 9–0.
• CB 121238 – Acquisition of two parcels in Central Area from CADA for affordable homeownership, with community preference policy. Passed 9–0.

Key Outcomes

• CB 121233 passed 9–0 (emergency street closures).
• CB 121232 passed 9–0 (Community Crisis Responder duties).
• CB 121218 passed 9–0 (Housing Levy Plan).
• CB 121236 passed as amended 9–0 (ground lease for Mount Baker housing/childcare).
• CB 121237 passed 9–0 (Montlake affordable homeownership site).
• CB 121238 passed 9–0 (Central Area homeownership parcels).
• Councilmember Juarez and Councilmember Strauss were excused from the July 7, 2026 meeting by unanimous consent.
• The meeting adjourned at 3:41 PM.