OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Seattle Council Committee Votes on FEP Levy Implementation Plan - July 22, 2026

City Council — Wednesday, July 22, 2026
BodySeattle, Washington
SessionCity Council
DateWednesday, July 22, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 3:48:36

Transcript — Verbatim
0:19

All right.

0:20

Good morning, everyone.

0:22

The July 22nd, 2026 meeting of the Select Committee on the Families Education, Preschool, and Promise Levy six-year implementation and evaluation plan will come to order.

0:34

It's 9 33 a.m.

0:36

I'm Maritza Rivera, Chair of the Committee.

0:38

Will the clerk please call the role?

0:41

Councilmember Juarez.

0:44

Here.

0:44

Councilmember Kettle.

0:46

Here.

0:46

Councilmember Lynn.

0:48

Here.

0:49

Councilmember Rink.

0:50

Here.

0:51

Councilmember Saka.

0:53

Morning here.

0:54

Councilmember Strauss.

0:56

Here.

0:57

Councilmember Foster.

0:58

Here.

0:58

Vice Chair Hollingsworth.

1:00

Present.

1:00

Chair Rivera.

1:01

Present.

1:02

Chair, there are nine council members present.

1:05

Thank you, Clerk.

1:06

Good morning, colleagues and members of the public and folks watching on the Seattle channel.

1:12

And shout out to our partners at the Department of Education and Early Learning, who I know are watching on online.

1:20

Welcome to our last meeting, select meeting on the FEP Levy INE plan.

1:26

Today we will be voting on the chair's package, which contains most of the amendments we reviewed last select committee meeting.

1:33

We'll also be voting on two amendments not included in the chair's package that we also reviewed at the last meeting, as well as taking our final vote on the INE plan before sending it to full council next week.

1:46

If there's no objection, the agenda will be adopted.

1:50

Hearing no objection, the agenda is adopted.

1:54

We will now open the hybrid public comment period.

1:56

Public comments should relate to items on the agenda or within the purview of this committee.

2:02

As a reminder, the council cannot accept comments on campaign-related matters.

2:08

So please keep your topics to city business.

2:16

Currently we have 31 in-person speakers and 20 remote speakers, giving us a total of 51.

2:24

Thank you, Clerk.

2:25

Given that, each speaker will have one minute.

2:35

The public comment period will be moderated in the following manner.

2:38

The public comment period is up to 60 minutes.

2:41

Each speaker will have one minute.

2:43

Speakers will be called in the order in which they are registered.

2:46

We will start with in-person speakers first, then remote speakers until the public comment period has ended.

2:51

Speakers will hear a chime when 10 seconds are left of their time.

2:55

The public comment period is now open.

2:57

We will begin with the first speaker on the list.

4:56

All power to the people.

4:58

Thank you, Elmer.

5:04

State rep, John Mason.

5:06

Thanks for being here.

5:14

Good morning, Madam Chair, Madam President, and the rest of the Steam Council.

5:19

My name is Don Mason.

5:20

I'm a former state representative.

5:23

And um, yeah, I've spent my life fighting to feed black children in this city.

5:29

That's exactly why I oppose this plan.

5:32

Um it dresses up a handout to the wealthy as justice for the poor.

5:38

And that has happened before.

5:40

It's almost become a tick in this city.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Health██████████████████████22%
Food Waste███████████████████19%
Procedural███████████████15%
Public Engagement████████████12%
Public Comment█████████9%
Youth Programs███████7%
Budget Equity Analysis██████6%
Racial Equity███3%
Affordable Housing███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Seattle City Council Select Committee on the Families, Education, Preschool, and Promise Levy 6-Year Implementation and Evaluation Plan - July 22, 2026

The Select Committee held its final meeting on the Implementation and Evaluation Plan (I&E) for the 2025 Families, Education, Preschool, and Promise (FEPP) Levy. After extensive public comment and debate on several amendments, the committee voted 8-1 to recommend passage of the amended ordinance (CB 121240) to the full City Council. The meeting lasted from 9:33 AM to 1:21 PM.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Support for Amendment 6 (targeted food assistance for weekends/breaks): Don Mason (former state representative), Jim Buchanan (Washington State Descendants of the Enslaved), Sierra (speaker), Victor Jagua (FMS Global Strategies/We Build Back Better Alliance), Aaron Tullett (FMS Global Strategies), Marta (Fremont resident), Albert Shiver (Community Passageways), Crystal Lee (Community Passageways), Lois Martin (Community Day Center for Children), Anita Adams (retired social service professional), Lady Scribe (Seattle Sound Music Awards Family Foundation), and others argued that the amendment directs resources to the most food-insecure students, especially during weekends and school breaks, and that universal meals already cover high-poverty schools. They cited data showing Black and Latino households experience food insecurity at twice the rate of white households, and that 80% of students in Rainier Valley qualify for free/reduced lunch.
  • Opposition to Amendment 6 (support for universal school meals without delay): Neelou Jenks (candidate for Council District 5), Oliver Miska (retired teacher), Rachel Major Snell (37th LD), Linda Osorio (high school student), Noah Williams (taxpayer), Bailey Modillo (Washington Bus), Sydney Locke (Washington Bus), Irene (Nathan Hale High School student), Andrew Park (math teacher, Seattle Education Association), Carrie Brahmusta (SPS teacher), Alex Kramer (paraprofessional, SEA), Ari Chihomski (high school teacher), Elaine McCallum (SPS teacher), Caitlin Skelton (former child care provider), Caleb Tolde (educator, Rainier Scholars), Sabrina Burr (Seattle school meals), CJ (community member), Leo (Nathan Hale High School/Seattle Student Union), Remon Basha (Feast), Tatiana Brown (food justice advocate), Diane Tao (teacher), Marcia Wright Sloika (Family Works), Jen Giomi (South Seattle College), Aparna (Voices of Tomorrow), Suzanne Cabrera, Cynthia Green, Nora Kenworthy, Siobhan Hicklin, Jennifer Godfrey, and others urged rejection of Amendment 6, arguing that universal meals reduce stigma, eliminate paperwork barriers, and are urgently needed. Several speakers noted that means-testing can deter immigrant families and that every child deserves meals regardless of income. Some cited the $489 million SPD budget as a source of funding instead.
  • Support for Amendment 4 (delaying preschool voucher pilot to fund food assistance): Councilmember Foster and others supported the amendment as a way to allow the Department of Education and Early Learning more time to design an equitable voucher program.
  • Other topics: Several speakers requested emergency bridge funding for parent education cooperative preschools (defunded by the state board) and asked for competitive bidding processes for certain programs.

Discussion Items

  • Chair's Package (Amendments 1-3, 5, 7-12, 15, 16): Central staff presented the package, which included updates to page numbers, co-sponsor additions, and new amendments. Amendments 13 and 14 were removed for separate consideration. The package was adopted 9-0.
  • Amendment 13 (Rivera): Technical amendment to clarify that the Path to Trades non-colleges program aligns with the Seattle Promise Path to Trades eligibility requirements. Adopted 9-0.
  • Amendment 14 (Rivera): Requires that all FEP levy investments awarded by competitive process be rebid on a 2–3 year cycle. Adopted 9-0.
  • Amendment 4 (Foster): Delays the preschool voucher pilot by one year (to 2027-2028) and redirects the funds ($154,000/year) to a new food assistance program for low-income students on weekends and breaks. The amendment also expands criteria for the voucher pilot beyond council district. Adopted 8-1 (Saka opposed).
  • Amendment 6 (Hollingsworth/Foster): Establishes a new food assistance program providing $500,000/year for six years to support low-income students with grocery vouchers on weekends and school breaks. Funded by delaying universal school meals from 2026-2027 to 2027-2028. Adopted 6-3 (Lynn, Rink, Saka opposed).
  • Council debate: Councilmembers expressed strong feelings on both sides of Amendment 6. Supporters (Rivera, Hollingsworth, Foster, Juarez, Kettle, Strauss) argued it targets the most vulnerable students, is sustainable, and builds on existing programs. Opponents (Saka, Lynn, Rink) emphasized the urgency of universal meals, the risk of delaying, and the burden of paperwork/means-testing. Councilmember Saka shared personal experiences with food insecurity and stigma. Councilmember Strauss cited budget concerns about the risk reserve fund. Councilmember Juarez noted the history of the FEP levy and the importance of implementation.

Key Outcomes

  • Adoption of Chair's Package (excluding amendments 13 & 14): 9-0.
  • Adoption of Amendment 13: 9-0.
  • Adoption of Amendment 14: 9-0.
  • Adoption of Amendment 4: 8-1 (Councilmember Saka opposed).
  • Adoption of Amendment 6: 6-3 (Councilmembers Lynn, Rink, and Saka opposed).
  • Recommendation to pass CB 121240 as amended to full council: 8-1 (Councilmember Saka opposed). The bill will be considered at the July 28, 2026 full City Council meeting.
  • Next steps: The department will begin implementing the plan, with the first year focusing on the new food assistance program and delayed universal meals.

Meeting Transcript

All right. Good morning, everyone. The July 22nd, 2026 meeting of the Select Committee on the Families Education, Preschool, and Promise Levy six-year implementation and evaluation plan will come to order. It's 9 33 a.m. I'm Maritza Rivera, Chair of the Committee. Will the clerk please call the role? Councilmember Juarez. Here. Councilmember Kettle. Here. Councilmember Lynn. Here. Councilmember Rink. Here. Councilmember Saka. Morning here. Councilmember Strauss. Here. Councilmember Foster. Here. Vice Chair Hollingsworth. Present. Chair Rivera. Present. Chair, there are nine council members present. Thank you, Clerk. Good morning, colleagues and members of the public and folks watching on the Seattle channel. And shout out to our partners at the Department of Education and Early Learning, who I know are watching on online. Welcome to our last meeting, select meeting on the FEP Levy INE plan. Today we will be voting on the chair's package, which contains most of the amendments we reviewed last select committee meeting. We'll also be voting on two amendments not included in the chair's package that we also reviewed at the last meeting, as well as taking our final vote on the INE plan before sending it to full council next week. If there's no objection, the agenda will be adopted. Hearing no objection, the agenda is adopted. We will now open the hybrid public comment period. Public comments should relate to items on the agenda or within the purview of this committee. As a reminder, the council cannot accept comments on campaign-related matters. So please keep your topics to city business. Currently we have 31 in-person speakers and 20 remote speakers, giving us a total of 51. Thank you, Clerk. Given that, each speaker will have one minute. The public comment period will be moderated in the following manner. The public comment period is up to 60 minutes. Each speaker will have one minute. 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 power to the people. Thank you, Elmer.

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