Seattle Libraries, Education, and Neighborhoods Committee Meeting – August 12, 2026
Libraries, Education, and Neighborhoods Committee Meeting – August 12, 2026
The Seattle City Council's Libraries, Education, and Neighborhoods Committee convened on August 12, 2026, at 9:33 a.m. in Council Chamber, City Hall. Chair Maritza Rivera presided with Councilmembers Eddie Lin and Alexis Mercedes Rinck present; Vice Chair Joy Hollingsworth and Member Dionne Foster were excused. The committee addressed a backlog of 19 items, including 17 appointments to various boards and commissions and two landmark designation ordinances. All votes were unanimous (3-0).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Bryce Suttle, co-owner of the Burwell House (709 14th Avenue East), spoke in support of the proposed controls and incentives agreement for the property, describing its historical significance as a 1904 Arts and Crafts mansion built by Anson Burwell, a civic leader who expanded the YMCA's role. He requested the committee move the ordinance forward for full council adoption.
- Jeff Murdock, speaking on behalf of Historic Seattle, expressed support for both the Wilde-Streatfield House and the Burwell House landmark designations. He commended the property owners for their stewardship and encouraged the committee to approve the designating ordinances.
Discussion Items
- Appointments to the Families, Education, Preschool, and Promise (FEP) Levy Oversight Committee (LOC) – Director Dwane Chappelle of the Department of Education and Early Learning presented 12 appointees (seven for terms ending December 31, 2027, and five for terms ending December 31, 2028). He noted 47 applicants for the 12 community positions. Appointees included returning member Dr. Lakeya Afolalu, community partners, educators, and advocates representing diverse districts and expertise in early learning, youth development, and equity. The committee voted unanimously to recommend confirmation.
- Appointments to the Ballard Avenue Landmark District Board – Lydia Feitilia and Min Chao of the Department of Neighborhoods presented the reappointment of Joe Krentz (architect) and appointment of Leslie Mehren (property owner and former small business operator). The committee confirmed both unanimously.
- Appointments to the Landmarks Preservation Board, International Special Review District Board, and Community Involvement Commission – Department of Neighborhoods staff presented Dan Sloat (structural engineer) for the Landmarks Preservation Board, Huy Pham (executive director of APIAHiP) for the International Special Review District Board, and Rachelle C. Olden (senior product marketing manager at Google) for the Community Involvement Commission. All three were confirmed unanimously.
- Landmark Designation – Wilde-Streatfield House (CB 121274) – Sarah Sodt of the Department of Neighborhoods presented the ordinance imposing controls on the 1911 Craftsman house at 904 West Galer Street, West Queen Anne, designated under standards D and E. The property, owned by David Streatfield and the late Madeline Wilde, features a steep woodland garden and octagonal tower. The committee voted unanimously to recommend passage.
- Landmark Designation – Burwell House (CB 121273) – Sarah Sodt presented the ordinance for the 1904 Burwell House at 709 14th Avenue East, Capitol Hill, designated under standards B, D, and E. The house is a large Arts and Crafts residence associated with civic leader Anson Burwell. Owners Bryce and Chris Seidel have restored the property. The committee voted unanimously to recommend passage.
Key Outcomes
- All 17 appointments (Appts 035771–0358812 and Appts 0358913–0359317) were confirmed by a vote of 3-0 and will be recommended to the full City Council at its August 18, 2026, meeting.
- Council Bill 121274 (Wilde-Streatfield House) and Council Bill 121273 (Burwell House) were each passed out of committee by a vote of 3-0, with recommendations for full Council approval on August 18, 2026.
- The meeting adjourned at 10:18 a.m. The next committee meeting is scheduled for September 9, 2026, at 9:30 a.m.
Meeting Transcript
All right. Good morning, everyone. The August 12th, 2026 meeting of the Libraries Education and Neighborhoods Committee will come to order. It's 9 33 a.m. I'm Maritza Rivera, Chair of the Committee. With a clerk please call the roll. Councilmember Lynn. Here. Councilmember Rink. Here. Vice Chair Hollingsworth. Charity Veta. Present. Three present. Please note for the record that Councilmember Foster is excused from today's meeting, and Council President is excused until she arrives. There are 19 items of business on today's agenda. As you know, many of this year's meetings of the library's education and neighborhoods committee were taken up by the Seattle Library Levy work and the families education preschool and promise levy implementation and evaluation plan legislation. That meant that this committee was unable to vote on some appointments and landmark designations. So we're going to catch up today. We will be considering and voting on several appointments to the families education preschool and promise levy oversight committee and appointments to the Ballard Avenue Landmark District Board, the Landmarks Preservation Board, the International Special Review District Board, and the Community Involvement Commission, as well as impositions of historical landmark controls on the Y uh Wild Stretfield House and the Burwell House on today's on to today's agenda. 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 either on the agenda or within the purview of this committee. Clerk, how many speakers are signed up today? Two in person, then remote. Thank you. Given that each speaker will have two minutes. Clerk, will you please read the public comment instructions? The public comment period will be moderating 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 registered. We will start with the in-person speakers. Speakers will hear a time when 10 seconds are left of their time. The public comment period is now open. We'll begin with the first speaker on the list, starting with Bryce and then Jeff Burdock. Welcome. Yes. Any of the mics work actually. You can, if the taller one works better for you, you can use that. I'm sorry. If the taller one works better for you, you can use that. There you go. I think this will be okay. Is that better? I'll be looking down here. Okay. Ready to go? You may begin.
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