[0:00] I would like to welcome everyone to the March 3rd, 2026 meeting of the King County Council. I'm

[0:09] Sarah Perry. Chair of the Council of this year, joined by Vice Chair of our own, and Vice Chair,

[0:14] done, and the rest of our council colleagues today, and the meeting is called to order.

[0:19] Before we begin, please join me in acknowledging that we're on the traditional lands of the

[0:23] Court.

[0:24] If you just say, wish people's paths to present, we thank these caretakers of this land, who

[0:28] lived here and continue to live here since time immemorial, bringing their cultural ways of life

[0:33] and greatly enriching our communities.

[0:35] With that, clerk Fos, would you please call the roll?

[0:39] Thank you.

[0:40] Council member of our duty.

[0:42] Chair, council member, bottom.

[0:46] Council member Dambowski.

[0:48] Council member Dunn.

[0:50] Chair.

[0:51] Council member Fain. Council member Lewis.

[0:54] Here. Council member Mosqueta.

[0:56] Here. Council member Van Rikbar.

[0:58] Chair Perry.

[1:00] Here.

[1:01] Okay. Great. Thank you very much. Next, please join us in the pledge of allegiance,

[1:07] led by Council Vice Chair of our own.

[1:09] Thank you. Please stand if you're able.

[1:11] I pledge allegiance.

[1:18] Thank you, Vice Chair Barone.

[1:22] At this point, may I please have a motion, Vice Chair, to approve the minutes of the February

[1:27] 24th, 2020.

[1:29] Thank you, Vice Chair Barone.

[1:32] At this point, may I please have a motion, Vice Chair, to approve the minutes of the February

[1:39] 24th, 2020, 26 council meeting.

[1:42] I move that we approve the minutes of February 24th.

[1:45] Thank you, all those in favor say aye.

[1:48] Aye. All those opposed say nay.

[1:50] Minutes are approved.

[1:52] Clerk Fos, are there any additions to the council agenda?

[1:55] I have two.

[1:57] Item 14 is a introduced ordinance for action.

[2:04] And the title, it's 2026-0048, an ordinance declaring a one year moratorium prohibiting the acceptance

[2:11] of applications for the establishment of new or expansion of existing detention facilities

[2:17] as primary execs to reuse as establishing a work plan into clearing an emergency.

[2:22] And item 15 is 2026-0049, a motion authorizing the chair.

[2:27] The King County Council assigned letters in two letters, two the chairs and vice

[2:31] chairs of the Washington State Senate and House Representatives Transportation Committee, the Senate

[2:36] Ways and Means Committee, and the House of Representatives appropriations committee

[2:41] related to the county's priorities in the state budget, also for intro and action.

[2:48] Thank you very much.

[2:50] Next, we will turn to our special item.

[2:53] I am hoping we have executive Zahalai with us today to present county service awards.

[3:00] We will wait for just a moment.

[3:03] I do believe he's in the in the stairs.

[3:06] And there he is.

[3:07] Please join me in welcoming executive Zahalai.

[3:10] Please go right ahead whenever you are ready.

[3:16] We are apparently we are.

[3:33] Good afternoon everyone.

[3:34] How's everybody feeling today?

[3:36] So good to see you all.

[3:38] This is my favorite time coming back to the council to honor and celebrate the amazing personnel

[3:45] and team members who keep King County moving every single day.

[3:49] We take this moment with the council and the executive to thank all of you for your service to this region.

[3:55] These are the people who keep our buses moving.

[3:58] Who keep our community safe.

[4:00] Who treat our water and make sure it's clean and able to be drinks.

[4:05] Those are all issues that we all care about.

[4:08] And you are the ones that deliver the very important services that we all help shape and craft together.

[4:14] So thank you so much.

[4:15] So I'm going to begin by calling on the people who are in front of me here.

[4:20] These are people who have a minimum of 20 years of service to this region.

[4:25] Give them a round of applause please.

[4:27] Thank you.

[4:28] First up with 20 years of service is Anthony Butler.

[4:37] Come on up Anthony.

[4:40] Anthony started at Metro Transit as a part time bus driver in February 2006.

[4:46] He went on to drive full time and was later promoted to first line supervision.

[4:51] In 2017 he was promoted to his present position of base chief.

[4:55] Come on up over here Anthony.

[4:58] Thank you so much.

[5:00] Anthony enjoys the Metro Transit family having made many enduring friendships.

[5:06] During his off time he enjoys spending time with his wife.

[5:09] As well as worshiping and serving his Lord and Savior Christ Jesus.

[5:16] Anthony collects fountain pins from the 1940s to 1960s and to a lesser degree.

[5:22] The typewriters from the same period he's also a United States veteran.

[5:26] Thank you for your service sir.

[5:32] Anthony is looking forward to planning an overlanding travel venture with his wife and possibly another trip to Japan or both.

[5:39] Please join me in honoring for 20 years of service Anthony Butler to King County and to this nation.

[5:45] Thank you.

[5:53] Thank you sir. This is the service Colleen.

[5:55] Thank you.

[5:56] Should we take a photo right up here together?

[6:22] Next up for 25 years of service Linda Whiteman come on up Linda.

[6:38] On the advice of a friend that she would apply to work at King County Metro Linda joined Metro Transit in 1998.

[6:45] She is here today over two decades later proudly wearing her uniform and very proudly serving the public.

[6:51] Her sister Joyce and nephew Sean also drive for Metro.

[6:56] Linda earned her 20 year service award ring and where is it daily?

[7:00] There it is.

[7:01] That's right.

[7:02] While not working she reads travels to interesting places and spends time with her family.

[7:07] In 2027 Linda and her sister will travel to Greece and Italy.

[7:11] She can't wait for that trip.

[7:13] Please join me in honoring for 25 years of service Linda Whiteman.

[7:17] Thank you.

[7:18] Thank you.

[7:19] Thank you.

[7:20] Thank you.

[7:21] Thank you.

[7:23] And who do you have here?

[7:25] That is your sister Joyce.

[7:26] Welcome Joyce.

[7:27] Thank you.

[7:28] Rosa, what are you wearing?

[7:29] Grabbing these papers.

[7:47] Next up for 25 years of service.

[7:56] We have two lean.

[7:58] Two lean.

[7:59] Are you here?

[8:01] There you are.

[8:03] Did I pronounce your name right?

[8:06] Okay.

[8:07] Perfect.

[8:08] Thank you.

[8:09] To lean has brought a lifelong commitment to service and safety and community impact to her decades of experience as a transit operator.

[8:17] Maintaining a 24 year safe driving record reflects not only her dedication to excellence, but also her deep love for people and the communities she serves every day.

[8:29] To lean believes that leadership is measured by integrity, growth, transparency and equity for those around us.

[8:36] Now serving in a PPM 2 role.

[8:39] She had the honor of co leading the employee giving program, breaking fundraising records in 2025.

[8:45] She also serves as an ambassador for the SSQA Safe Reform Initiative.

[8:51] To lean's favorite pastime includes building her Christian faith through prayer to become a better version of herself and sharing time with her son, family and friends.

[9:00] She also enjoys celebrating life with cooking and dinner parties, sporting events, fishing and learning how to trade with the stock market.

[9:08] And sometimes just resting and enjoying her peace.

[9:12] Sometimes that's all we need, right?

[9:13] Yeah.

[9:14] Please join me in honoring for 25 years of service to lean to Oliver.

[9:18] Congratulations.

[9:42] For 30 years of service, join me in congratulating Lisa Naltz.

[9:50] Lisa, come on up.

[9:56] In July of 1992, Lisa applied to be a part-time transit operator to attend the University of Washington.

[10:03] To her great surprise, she was accepted to both.

[10:06] She was a single parent with an 11-year-old daughter studying anthropology, full-time and being an operator part-time until 1997.

[10:14] Lisa enjoys working in public service and finds helping people very gratifying her dedication to safety, reliability and community.

[10:22] Involvement earned her the operator of the year award in 2022.

[10:27] I love to hear that.

[10:31] Throughout her years of service with Metro, Lisa has been a proud member of amalgamated transit union local 587 volunteering and serving her sisters, brothers and siblings.

[10:42] Outside of work, Lisa likes to spend time with her friends and family.

[10:46] She also enjoys volunteering with various Seattle area, Native American and Alaska Native organizations.

[10:51] Please join me in honoring for 30 years of service, Lisa Naltz.

[10:56] Thank you so much.

[11:21] For 35 years of service, Armand Morales, Armand, come on up.

[11:38] Okay, I don't think he is present today, so we'll go ahead and read it because we still want to honor this person who served 35 years.

[11:47] Armand started out writing the bus as a kid in New York City.

[11:50] His grandfather helped teach him how to drive on his ranch in New Mexico, where he was a school bus driver.

[11:56] Armand rode the 48 route going to and from Bishop Lanchette High School after graduating.

[12:01] He joined the Navy for one hitch.

[12:03] When he got out of the Navy, Armand worked at Al's Auto and Ballard.

[12:07] His friend Mark Reed was working at Metro and New Armand was a car guy who liked to drive.

[12:12] Mark suggested he put in an application at Metro and Armand was hired as a transit operator.

[12:17] He took two years off to go to college in Southern California, but when he moved back, Armand was rehired in Metro.

[12:23] He says that Metro was a good fit for him.

[12:26] Armand has received three operator of the month awards.

[12:29] He enjoys watching his daughter perform in theater and going camping with his family and friends.

[12:34] Armand looks forward to retiring and working on this project on his project vehicles.

[12:38] Please join me in honoring for 35 years of service.

[12:41] Armand Morales.

[12:43] Thank you.

[12:44] All right, next up.

[12:53] For 20 years of service, please join me in thanking Ted Griffin.

[12:57] Where's Ted?

[12:58] Where's Ted?

[13:08] Ted started at King County in 2006 as a security officer.

[13:12] His posts have included the Yesler Building, King County Courthouse,

[13:17] Mailing Regional Justice Center and King Street Center to name a few.

[13:21] Ted has worked security detail for Washington Governor Jay, Inslee, and Bob Ferguson when they visited King County.

[13:27] One assignment that sticks out in Ted's memory is from 2012 when working security,

[13:32] when Ben Executive Dow Constantine signed the first marriage license for same-sex couples.

[13:38] Ted was promoted to security sergeant in 2025 and is now the training sergeant for all King County security officers.

[13:46] When he's not at work, Ted is an avid fan of the LA Dodgers and the LA Oakland Las Vegas Raiders.

[13:53] We'll talk about that later.

[13:58] He also enjoys traveling the world.

[14:00] Please join me in honoring for 20 years of service, Ted Griffin.

[14:23] For 30 years of service, Willie Matthews.

[14:34] Willie Matthews.

[14:39] Congratulations, I'm thank you.

[14:41] Willie began working for Metro in 1991 and came to the clerk's office in 1996 once Metro and King County merged.

[14:49] Her most memorable project with the county was working on the Martin Luther King Junior County calendar.

[14:54] She most enjoys working with and learning from a diverse group of co-workers and customers every day.

[15:00] Outside of work, Willie loves spending time with family and friends, including her three children and five grandchildren, amazing.

[15:08] Her current hobbies are dance class and learning yoga. She is looking forward to retirement so she can travel, volunteer in the pediatric intensive care unit and spend more time with her grandkids. Please join me in honoring for 30 years of service, Willie Mathews.

[15:24] And who do we have here? That's your daughter, what's your daughter's name? Tiffany. Thank you for letting us borrow your mama.

[15:54] For 30 years of service, please join me in thanking Sean Gouchey.

[16:01] Sean, please come on up.

[16:08] That's right.

[16:10] Sean started with King County right out of college as a graduate student intern at the time Metro and King County were merging.

[16:18] One of our most memorable projects was implementing and programming the initial design for the Waterworks Garden at South Plent.

[16:25] Another was collaborating, coordinating and helping implement the standardization of new mercators fuel monitoring system.

[16:34] Did I pronounce that right? This system now provides real-time remote fuel monitoring and remote leak test data, helping utilize staff time more efficiently.

[16:44] Sean says it has been a blessing to work with the wonderful and hardworking people in WTD and seeing the finished product their team created.

[16:53] Sean loves spending time with her husband and family as well as line dancing, writing her e-bike and attending RV outings and rallies here in Washington and in various other states. She is looking forward to retiring and taking her RV coast to coast.

[17:11] She staying at beautiful RV resorts in between. Please join me in honoring for 30 years of service, Sean Gouchey.

[17:20] Thank you so much.

[17:22] We want to announce some of your family members here.

[17:25] Just say their name so that we know who to think.

[17:28] My wonderful husband.

[17:31] My mother, Laura Roberts, my sister, Tara Davis and my grandfather, Frank Green.

[17:37] You're welcome. Thank you so much.

[17:39] I'm amazing. Do you want your supervisor to come up for the photo?

[17:43] Please join us.

[17:47] Thank you so much.

[17:49] Thank you so much.

[17:51] Thank you so much.

[17:53] Thank you.

[17:54] Mother, you could be in the middle of this.

[17:56] And then all your loved ones will surround you.

[17:59] Go out.

[18:21] Thank you.

[18:22] Thank you so much.

[18:23] Thank you so much.

[18:25] Thank you so much.

[18:44] All right.

[18:45] For 35 years of service, please join me in congratulating and thanking Dan Dovey.

[18:52] Dan, where are you?

[19:00] As a licensed professional civil engineer, Dan Designs,

[19:04] barrier systems, modern roundabouts, roadway striping,

[19:08] traffic control, and detour plans for road services.

[19:12] His analysis of collision reporting has fostered projects that

[19:16] have made crashes, fewer and less severe county wide.

[19:20] Dan has testified and successfully helped defend King County

[19:24] and road safety tort liability cases.

[19:26] He's given presentations to national audiences on road side

[19:30] safety and roundabouts, including his design of some of the first

[19:34] mini roundabouts in the country.

[19:36] And his free time, Dan is often in the mountains, hiking,

[19:39] visiting national parks, golfing, or walking his two scottied dogs.

[19:43] Please join me in honoring for 35 years of service.

[19:46] Dan Dovey, everybody. Thank you.

[19:50] Thank you.

[20:20] All right.

[20:23] For 20 years of service,

[20:28] Shinder Sidhu, Shinder Sidhu, come on up.

[20:36] All right.

[20:38] For 20 years of service, Shinder Sidhu,

[20:42] come on up.

[20:45] Thank you, Shinder Sidhu.

[20:47] Come on up.

[20:49] Thank you.

[20:52] Thank you.

[20:54] Thank you so much.

[20:56] Shinder began her career with King County as a medical assistant

[21:00] and has proudly served the community for the past 20 years.

[21:04] She now works as a registered nurse with jail health services

[21:08] and the community health services division.

[21:10] Shinder is dedicated to providing compassionate

[21:13] patient-centered care to vulnerable populations

[21:16] and takes pride in supporting individuals during challenging times.

[21:20] She values the opportunities she's had to grow professionally,

[21:24] expanding her clinical skills and strengthening her leadership abilities.

[21:28] Outside of work, Shinder actively participates in community service

[21:32] through her church.

[21:33] She enjoys exercising, gardening, crafting, and dancing.

[21:38] Shinder has been happily married for 34 years to her husband.

[21:41] Wow.

[21:42] Congratulations.

[21:44] Together, they have raised two wonderful sons.

[21:47] One is a family health physician and the other is a cybersecurity engineer.

[21:52] Congratulations.

[21:54] Her family also includes two beautiful dogs,

[21:57] Winster and Otis who bring them great joy.

[22:00] Shinder is grateful for the experiences that have shaped her career

[22:04] and is excited about what the future holds.

[22:06] Please join me in honoring for 20 years of service,

[22:09] Shinder said who and her family.

[22:11] Thank you.

[22:36] You're going to join us.

[22:40] You're going to join us.

[23:06] Thank you for your service.

[23:19] For 30 years of service, please join me in thanking Sean Dumas.

[23:32] Sean is a dedicated staff nurse with over a decade of providing compassionate, high-quality

[23:37] care to vulnerable populations in King County.

[23:41] As a nurse leader, he successfully redesigned intake, implemented multiple clinical operation

[23:48] improvements and triage improvements and an electronic health record implementation.

[23:54] Sean works to ensure health care equity values through application and policies.

[24:00] Service-level procedures and appropriate staffing models.

[24:03] Sean is a veteran of the United States Army and enjoys traveling, yes, dancing and husky

[24:12] football with his wife of 35 years.

[24:18] Please join me in honoring for 30 years of service to King County and again to this

[24:24] nation, Sean Dumas, thank you so much, thank you so much, thank you so much, thank you so

[25:10] years of service, please join me in thanking Susan Harris, Susan, are you in the better?

[25:17] Where you are?

[25:23] Susan started service with King County as a project control officer on the wastewater

[25:28] treatment alky project, working from design to project close-out.

[25:34] Her next position was business and finance officer with the road services division, providing

[25:39] financial management of construction projects, grants, reporting, bonds and internal

[25:44] controls, as well as audit liaison.

[25:47] Susan currently works with the public health as financial compliance and grant manager, overseeing

[25:52] department-wide internal controls, audit readiness and grant contract management.

[25:58] Susan enjoys the opportunity to partner with others in a dynamic environment.

[26:02] She thrives in managing complex situations, seeing patterns in chaos and optimizing process

[26:09] for maximum productivity.

[26:11] She is honored to work for King County, and her free time, Susan loves spending time with

[26:16] her family, friends, and dancing, and cooking.

[26:19] Please join me in honoring for 25 years of service, Susan Harris.

[26:23] Thank you so much.

[26:33] Thank you.

[26:51] For 45 years of service, please join me in thanking James Sandlin, James, are you in

[27:06] the building?

[27:07] Please, if you can, please, a standing ovation, please, thank you.

[27:26] Jim was hired as a pair of medic with King County medic 1 in 1980.

[27:31] Working with local fire departments in Zone 3, he provided advanced life support to the citizens

[27:37] of King County.

[27:38] Jim was trained under neurologist, Dr. Copas, during his time serving the citizens of

[27:44] Puget Sound, Jim trained new King County medics while serving as field training officer.

[27:50] Jim's wife is a former King County medic as well.

[27:53] They have been married for 35 years.

[28:01] Residing in Maple Valley, Jim loves Mariners Baseball and Fishing.

[28:06] He spends a good chunk of his time chasing his grandkids and great grandkids.

[28:12] Please join me in honoring for 45 years of service, James Sandlin.

[28:21] Thank you.

[28:31] Anybody wants to be part of the picture?

[28:37] Come on.

[28:45] I'll stand back here.

[28:59] I think you're going to get a special one for 45 years.

[29:15] Oh, that's a good one.

[29:45] Thank you.

[30:30] Okay, please keep your eyes out and look this way. Thanks, Miles.

[31:00] All right, one more time for all of our longtime public servants. Thank you all so much for

[31:28] the dedication and your commitment to the people of King County. We are so grateful for all of you King County Council. It's always a pleasure. Thank you so much for allowing me to be here. Thank you.

[31:40] Thank you very much. Executive Zahalai and we'll wait a little moment for folks and congratulations to everyone here and thank you for your service. Thank you.

[31:53] Okay, we will now turn to the reading of items into the record in the hearing of public comments.

[32:22] Vice chair, Barone. Would you please make a motion to suspend the rules?

[32:30] Okay, we'll start that again. We'll now turn to the reading of items into the record in the hearing of public comments.

[32:48] Vice chair Barone, would you please make a motion to suspend the rules on item 14 to take action with our referral to committee and to hold public hearing without waiting and required.

[32:58] Thank you. The motion is before us. All those in favor say aye. All those opposed say nay motion carries. Vice chair Barone, would you also make a motion to suspend the rules to take action on item 15 without referral to committee and to hold the public hearing.

[33:14] Thank you. The motion is before us. All those in favor say aye. All those opposed say nay. The motion carries during the public hearing portion of this meeting.

[33:28] All right, clerk, fossil you please read the items into the record. Thank you. Thank you, chair Perry. Item number seven is proposed ordinance number 205 0265 authorizing the execution of a franchise agreement with the snow Kwami Valley school district for use of certain King County road rights of way in unincorporated King County for the construction operation and maintenance of wireline telecommunications transmission facilities.

[33:55] For eight is proposed ordinance 206 015 revising the corporate boundary of the city of Enemplot to include the unincorporated portion of McEw Avenue right away is provided for in RCW 35A 21 to 10 item 14 is proposed ordinance 2026 048 declaring a one year moratorium prohibiting the acceptance of applications for the establishment of new or expansion of existing detention facility.

[34:24] As primary or accessory uses establishing a work plan and declaring an emergency and item 15 is proposed motion number 2026 0409 authorizing the chair the King County Council design letters to the chairs and vice chairs of the Washington State Senate and House representative transportation committees the Senate ways and means committee and the House of representatives appropriations committee.

[34:53] Thank you very much. During public hearing portion of this meeting the council will take public comment on items on today's agenda for action. Do we have folks here in the audience or online for public comment?

[35:10] Okay, great. Listening to the public and taking into consideration the public thoughts is an important part of our process and one that enhances our deliberations.

[35:19] In order to allow everyone to provide public comment, I'd like to set the following ground rules. Please a minute comments to two minutes remains seated until your time for public comment do not make audible noise during the meeting.

[35:33] It's also a reminder that public comment may not be used for the purpose of assisting a campaign for election of any person to any office or for the promotion or opposition to any ballot proposition.

[35:44] In addition for council rule 10 disruptive behavior may lead to the comments or being asked to leave the meeting.

[35:50] And disruptive behavior includes but is not limited to standing rather than remaining seated except when entering relieving the chambers or to provide comment at the podium after being called on to speak speaking from the audience without being recognized to provide comment making audible noise in the audience beyond speaking.

[36:07] Holding signs that distract the free passage or view of others attending the meeting, the useful horns or noise makers.

[36:14] For online comment, press star nine on the phone or click the raise hand icon on the zoom toolbar located at the bottom of the screen to notify the clerk.

[36:23] The clerk will then call the names of the last three digits of the phone numbers in order and will then unmute each line.

[36:29] And at the end of each comment the clerk will lower the hands with that clerk can't please begin calling the names here in person followed by those hands raised online for public comment. Thank you.

[36:43] And now everyone knows that much more. We don't have any public comment today it turns out so.

[36:49] Oh, we do have two online. So please go ahead and call on them when you're ready.

[36:54] Good afternoon.

[37:03] Good afternoon chair and council members I'm here today. My name is Kinder Washington and I'm here today on behalf of the American civil liberties union of Washington in strong support of the moratorium.

[37:15] The crux of this matter is responsibility responsibility to our communities responsibility to the people who may be detained in these facilities and responsibility to the long term health and maintenance of our environment.

[37:28] Large scale detention facilities are not ordinary land uses they heard and concentrate hundreds and even thousands of people in custody far from loved ones council and community support.

[37:39] These individuals often have complex medical mental health and legal needs when a county allows a facility of this magnitude it must ensure appropriate health protections oversight mechanisms and public safety infrastructure.

[37:55] These safeguards don't happen on their own they require thoughtful planning focus and clear regulation.

[38:04] Environmental facilities of this size constrained water systems waste water treatment transportation networks emergency services and surrounding communities.

[38:13] Our development code must clearly anticipate and address these impacts before a permit is filed not after construction has already begun.

[38:22] This moratorium does not predeterminate outcome it simply creates space space study space to engage the public and space to evaluate the human and environmental impacts.

[38:34] In sure that any future decisions will be grounded in careful planning and community values.

[38:39] King County has an obligation to get this right and this ordinance gives the county time to do that work responsibly and transparently thank you for listening.

[38:49] Thank you very much.

[38:53] The next name is Mary Bell Garcia.

[39:01] Yes.

[39:03] Good afternoon everyone person foremost I would like to thank the council members for this opportunity and thank council member Muskela for your leadership on the motion for an emergency proposal to establish a one year.

[39:16] More atorium to prohibit the acceptance or of new or expansions of existing detention facilities and thus limiting the expansion of detention facilities that.

[39:27] DHS seeks currently in order to keep our community safe.

[39:30] My name is Marabok Garcia a long time by language elementary educator and currently in a role as a leadership for education equity fellow for policy advocacy.

[39:41] I was honored to be chosen by many organizations to work across the nation but I chose the money that as we are in deep conversations with at least 10 archer each later is a day and clear.

[39:52] On creating system change to make our county a flourishing safe place for everyone.

[39:56] As my passion has always been to better the lives of the children and families in my community.

[40:02] As a proud first generation Latina graduate with Mexican and Colombian roots, I can relate to so many Latinos from the stories and ideas we hear from over a thousand youth and adults we listen to annually.

[40:14] We continue to hear the path from left heels us are youth to seek solutions and justice in their communities and the one year more atorium protects our communities from investors.

[40:25] How many of that wants to think council member must get for the emergency proposal to prohibit the acceptance of new and expanding detention centers and requesting to establish work plans for transparency and account accountability for our community.

[40:41] Thank you.

[40:42] Next on the list is Henry Jane.

[40:51] Hi, I'm Henry, a constituent and resident here in King County.

[41:05] I'm also a volunteer with the immigrant rights organization of one of America.

[41:10] I like to express my gratitude and support for council member Masqueda and her proposed ordinance number 20260048 declaring a moratorium on the country.

[41:20] Detention centers are indefensible and wasteful allocation of land and resources wherever a detention center is built where robbed of the future where that could have been houses, hospitals, offices, shopping centers, schools or playgrounds.

[41:41] Having more detention centers would not benefit the surrounding area of a rather degrade the neighborhood.

[41:47] The detention centers don't just take up space but cast a long shadow of fear and violence on the community.

[41:54] Our community is where people live, raise families, work, improve and enjoy themselves and thrive.

[42:01] Now where people are aware housed and other people at our tax expense deprive people of rights and commit acts of negligence.

[42:12] As Washingtonians, the also as Americans, generally prefer having human rights rather than violating them.

[42:21] Given the violations and misconduct that have already been reported at the northwest detention center in Tacoma and elsewhere, this moratorium curbing the harmful proliferation of detention facilities with help prevent additional human rights violations from happening in our own backyard.

[42:37] Thank you again.

[42:42] Okay, thank you very much to everyone who has stepped up to provide testimony today.

[42:57] Is there anyone in chambers or online that did not have a chance to speak and would like the opportunity?

[43:04] Anyone else who'd like to speak and has not yet had the chance?

[43:08] All right, thank you very much.

[43:10] Seeing no further requests, we will close public hearing.

[43:13] Moving on to consent items, Vice-Shabroon, would you please move consent item 7 and 8?

[43:19] I moved consent item 7 and 8.

[43:22] Okay, great.

[43:23] Thank you.

[43:24] And if we can please have a roll call.

[43:27] Thank you.

[43:28] Council member Belduchi?

[43:29] Aye.

[43:30] Council member Baton?

[43:31] Aye.

[43:32] Council member Dimbowski?

[43:33] Aye.

[43:34] Council member Dunn?

[43:35] Aye.

[43:36] Council member Lewis?

[43:37] Aye.

[43:38] Council member Mosqueta?

[43:39] Aye.

[43:40] Council member Van Rikfar?

[43:41] Aye.

[43:42] Chair Perry?

[43:43] Aye.

[43:44] The vote is nine eyes and zero nose.

[43:46] Thank you.

[43:47] By our vote, we've adopted proposed ordinance.

[43:49] Number 2025-0265 and 2026-01015.

[43:55] If there's no objection, the published marked agenda together with any changes made in today's meeting.

[44:00] We'll stand approved as the first reading and referral of ordinances and motions items 9 through 12.

[44:06] As listed.

[44:08] Moving on to other business.

[44:10] Ordnance number 2026-0408 is ordinance that declares a one year moratorium prohibiting the acceptance

[44:18] of applications for the establishment of new or expansion of existing detention facilities as primary

[44:25] or accessory uses establishing a work plan and declaring an emergency.

[44:30] Council member Mosqueta, as sponsor, would you like to move the item?

[44:34] Thank you, Madam Chair.

[44:35] Thank you, Chair Perry.

[44:36] I move the item.

[44:37] Thank you.

[44:38] Colleagues Jake Tracy from Central Staff is available to answer questions.

[44:43] Councillor Mosqueta, would you like to offer opening comments and then we'll open it up for discussion?

[44:48] Absolutely.

[44:49] We'll first I want to thank Jake Tracy and Erin House of my team.

[44:53] They have been working very diligently over the last few weeks on this.

[44:57] This is an emergency one year.

[45:00] For more, that immediately blocks the acceptance of permits for new or expanded detention facilities in unincorporated King County, preventing the citing of publicly or privately operated facilities, including potential ice detention centers.

[45:16] The measure prohibits the county from accepting applications for new or expanded detention centers, whether proposed as a permit or permanent or temporary use.

[45:26] The ordinance also prevents approvals obtained through vague or misleading project descriptions, and tries to close regulatory gaps that could otherwise allow private detention facilities to move forward before updated rules are adopted.

[45:41] The county has the authority, as my colleagues well know, under the Constitutional Police Powers, Homeral Authority, and the Washington State Growth Management Act to establish a moratorium to preclude the acceptance of certain new development applications, while the county studies related land use issues.

[46:00] This legislation is consistent with that. In attempts to make sure that we are considering what our neighboring jurisdictions are already passing, including in the city of Tequila, the city of Seetack, the port of Seattle, and under consideration at the city of Seattle.

[46:19] It is also consistent with legislation we've already seen passing considered by Baltimore County and Kansas City, Missouri.

[46:26] Many jurisdictions across this country are looking at ways that they can use their local land use regulations to continue to focus on strengthening public health and community resilience.

[46:39] The reason that this is being walked on today is because we have seen massive expansions of detention facilities across the country, and often communities find out about the new facilities that are being cited in their neighborhoods when it's too late to do anything about it.

[46:56] The King County's land in unincorporated King County, I believe, needs to be focused on promoting the health safety and well-being of all residents, including permitting things like housing and child care, health services, small business space.

[47:12] The use of this land regulation tool is to make sure that we are furthering the public's interest.

[47:18] I don't believe that it's within the public's interest to allow for the creation, the building of systems, detention facilities that further isolate and intimidate or cause harm to people.

[47:31] What we have seen from detention facilities when they are introduced in communities around this country is that the sheer presence of these detention facilities, the increased presence of ICE agents, the carry serious consequences for the health and safety of the surrounding neighbors.

[47:47] They disrupt and destroy the fabric of our communities. Fewer people seek medical care. Fewer kills go to school. Less people go shopping for groceries. Fewer people seek help from our local law enforcement agent when they desperately need it.

[48:06] I don't want our communities to lose trust in their local government. I want them to see the connection and the stability and see that King County as their local government is doing everything we can to further make sure our communities can thrive.

[48:21] This moratorium ensures that King County land use regulations can continue to focus on strengthening the public's health and community resilience while we study the implications of potential detention facilities.

[48:35] This legislation includes very clear language ensuring upgrades at existing facilities like echo Glen or the Office of Refugee Resettlement for unaccompanied minor shelters, for example, can continue to proceed as needed to support the health and safety of those on site in uncorporated areas.

[48:56] Finally, Chair Perry. This ordinance also prevents permits to be obtained during this one year period so that we can make sure that we any legislation that we ultimately consider or adopt focuses on King County's land use priorities by promoting the health, safety and wellness of our local residents.

[49:16] I appreciate the seriousness in which you take this legislation because I don't come to it lightly to walk on legislation. This is not a tool I intend to use often and I know that my colleagues have used it very reserved and very reserved times. I do hope that you will see in this that we have very thoughtfully built off of what our local colleagues have already passed in cities in this county and that we are proactively working to make sure that we're protecting the public's interest here.

[49:43] Again, it's a one year moratorium with further work to come.

[49:47] Thank you very much, Councillor Muscada. Let's now have Jake Tracy brief us and then we will go into executive session.

[49:55] Thank you, Chair Perry. Jake Tracy, Council staff. The materials for this item are on pay in the green folder on page two.

[50:03] Proposed ordinance 20260048 would declare an emergency and establish a one year moratorium on the acceptance of development permit applications for what the ordinance defines as detention facilities and I'll dig a bit more into the definition shortly.

[50:16] It would also establish a work plan for study and future legislation during that one year period.

[50:22] So Washington's growth management act gives counties the ability to adopt a moratorium on development to preclude the acceptance of certain new development applications while the county studies related to land use issues.

[50:32] And as a reminder, the county only has land use authority over unincorporated can county so any county moratorium only applies to unincorporated areas not to any city.

[50:41] These moratorium are exempt from state law from the requirements to hold a public hearing prior to adoption, but a notice public hearing must be held within 60 days of adoption.

[50:51] Moratorium are allowed to last for six months or one year if a work plan is adopted and they may be extended for additional six month periods if public hearings are held and findings effect made prior to the renewal.

[51:02] Just a bit of background on the existing code for detention facilities.

[51:06] King County doesn't define detention facility in its zoning code 21A, but it does define jail and jail farm.

[51:14] The jail is a government operated facility designed staff can use for the incarceration of persons for the purpose of punishment correction and rehabilitation following conviction but in offense.

[51:23] And these facilities must obtain a special use permit which requires a hearing examiner decision and are allowed in the residential neighborhood business community business regional business office and industrial zones.

[51:34] There are some exceptions to this. There are some areas with special district overlays and areas specific land use tables where jails are not allowed but generally they're allowed in those zones.

[51:43] There are not any regulations or conditions that are specific to jails other than complying with the special use permit requirements.

[51:50] There is one jail echo glam children center operated by the department of children youth and families that currently operates an unincorporated can county outside of snow quality.

[51:58] As echo Glen children center is located in an RAA rural area zone.

[52:02] It is classified as an existing non-conforming use and a subject of the county's existing non-conforming use code provisions and I'll talk shortly about the applicability of this proposed moratorium to echo Glen.

[52:12] The other term in the zoning code jail farm is a farm or camp on which persons convicted of minor law violations are confined and participate in agriculture and other work activities of the facility.

[52:23] These also require special use permit and are allowed in the agricultural forest, rural area and urban reserve zones and staff's knowledge there are no jail farms in unincorporated can county.

[52:34] So as I mentioned this we replace a one year moratorium on new or expanded detention facilities and it would define detention facility as it is defined in state law RCW7095O20 as any facility in which persons are incarcerated or otherwise involuntarily confined for purposes including prior to trial or sentencing fulfilling the terms of a sentence imposed by a court or for other judicial or administrative processes or proceedings.

[52:59] So this definition would apply broadly to all government-operated facilities local state and federal as well as those run by private entities.

[53:06] It would also exempt specific types of facilities from the definition and therefore from the moratorium.

[53:11] Most of which come from state law but there are a couple of additions.

[53:14] I can go through each one individually if you like but broadly the exemptions relate to facilities that are detaining people for behavioral health and public health reasons.

[53:22] Facilities owned and operated by tribes, influx care facilities for unaccompanied non-citizen children that are operated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Refugee Resettlement and commercially sexually exploited children receiving centers.

[53:36] And I'll note that one exemption coming from state law is for facilities for juvenile offenders that provide rehabilitative counseling, treatment, mental health, educational or medical services and echo Glen Children Center does fit this exemption and therefore as exempt from the moratorium.

[53:51] The moratorium would apply to all permit types, building permits, occupancy permits, public health approvals, temporary use permits and any other type of development permit and approval.

[54:01] But all vested and lawfully established uses would be allowed to continue and operate and would be allowed to be maintained, repaired and redeveloped as long as the use is not expanded.

[54:10] It would also allow for limited expansion of vested and otherwise lawfully established government run facilities only when it is demonstrated that the expansion is necessary for security improvements to prevent likely and substantial harm to residents staff or public safety.

[54:24] The proposed ordinance would establish a work plan for studying these detention facilities and their impacts as is required for moratorium longer than six months.

[54:32] The work plan would direct the executive to analyze and make recommendations for permanent regulations, mitigation measures and appropriate zones for these facilities.

[54:39] The study would include but not be limited to analysis of the impact of these facilities and other locations where they've been cited.

[54:45] Additional government services and public safety needs, citing an operation of the facilities we require.

[54:51] Regulations needed to protect the health and safety of detainees and whether and how these different types of facilities should be regulated based on their impacts.

[54:59] Public engagement and consultation with the Department of Children youth and families would be required.

[55:04] The study and an ordinance with any proposed code changes would be due to council nine months after the effective dates of this ordinance date of this ordinance which would be today of past.

[55:12] And with that I am happy to answer any questions.

[55:15] Any questions before executive session colleagues.

[55:21] Council member Belducci just clarifying questions only.

[55:30] If if you were not expanding.

[55:33] Detention use like say if there was a flood in the Kent Valley and we suddenly had to evacuate the RJC and move people who are currently being detained in RJC to a facility that happened to be an unincorporated King County.

[55:45] Would that be considered under a moratorium if this were passed?

[55:50] Moving to a different site would be considered a new facility and so it would be subject to the moratorium.

[55:56] Okay.

[55:58] If I can you clarify that fuller answer that you gave me yesterday about how there could be an expansion or a reconsideration.

[56:07] So yes the moratorium could be resented by the council and at any time or it could be resented and replaced with a new moratorium that has updated requirements.

[56:17] So if such a situation occurred and a site was needed in unincorporated King County the council could take back the moratorium to allow that or could adjust it to allow for certain types of facilities in certain situations such as that.

[56:35] Thank you second clarifying question and I'm going to have a quick follow up sorry chair.

[56:42] You are speaking to exemptions where are those in the proposed ordinance.

[56:48] Yes so that is in section three which is on page.

[56:56] In one second.

[56:59] It begins on the bottom of page six so it sites RCW 73 950303 which are a number of exceptions in the state law.

[57:12] And it also adds to additional exemptions the unaccompanied nonsense and children facilities and the commercially sexually exploited children receiving centers that are not in that state law exemption.

[57:26] Thank you and final question chair thank you for the time.

[57:30] Under moratorium typically we have to have occasional public hearings and votes one does that occur under this moratorium.

[57:41] Yeah so if this were to pass today the council would have to hold a public hearing and noticed public hearing within 60 days.

[57:47] And then if the council wants to extend the moratorium after the one year period they would have to hold a public hearing prior to extending.

[57:56] Okay I'll hold the rest of my comments to laughter executive session. Thank you.

[58:00] Thank you any other clarifying comments.

[58:03] Councilmember Mosquita.

[58:04] Thank you I just wanted to thank Councilmember Balducci for your questions yesterday.

[58:07] We followed upon that question to like if the facility were to burn down for example.

[58:11] I needed to have a complete replacement.

[58:13] I appreciate central staff for you elaborating on the answer because I think it is helpful to know that.

[58:18] A aspect of this could be rescinded or we could pass a new and modified moratorium.

[58:23] And the unlikely and hopefully never case that such a tragic situation may happen.

[58:28] I also wanted to reiterate my appreciation for the executive team the KCSO and the prosecuting attorneys office for their engagement with our office as well.

[58:38] As this relates to sort of the definitions that you see there as central staff explain.

[58:42] There's no great single definition for a detention center but we have confirmed that they're under this definition.

[58:48] There's no planned creation of any new jails for example an unincorporated King County in the next year.

[58:54] So this would not have an impact on that and there's nothing currently planned so I just want to make sure to follow up on those two questions.

[59:00] Thank you very much councilmember Mosquita.

[59:04] The council will now meet in executive session the grounds for executive session as allowed by our CW 42 dot 30 dot 1 1 0 1 G and I are to discuss with legal counsel the legal risks of a proposed action to which the county is or is likely to become a party.

[59:23] In public knowledge regarding the discussions likely to result in an adverse legal or financial consequence to the county and to review the performance of a public employee.

[59:32] The council will be an executive session for approximately 20 minutes until 250 the council will be off the zoom call for this executive session together with only those county employees directly necessary for the discussion.

[59:45] I now ask council members required county staff and the council's legal council to please move into the blue room for executive session.

[59:52] And I ask CTV to please post the zoom meeting to that effect and to turn off the microphones the council is expected to take for.

[1:00:00] Further action following executive session. Thank you.

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[1:15:00] Local government meeting.

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[1:35:30] Local government meeting.

[1:35:40] Local government meeting.

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[1:36:00] Local government meeting.

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[1:42:57] In this video, I would like to thank you for watching this video, and I hope to see you in the next video, and I hope to see you in the next video.

[1:43:27] Thank you for watching this video, and I hope to see you in the next video.

[1:43:57] The chair has extended executive sessions by another 10 minutes until 3.25.

[1:44:22] Thank you for watching this video, and I hope to see you in the next video.

[1:44:52] Thank you for watching, and I hope to see you in the next video.

[1:45:30] Thank you for your attention.

[1:50:00] Thank you so much for watching.

[1:55:00] Thank you, I call the meeting back to order, and I will call, there's a motion, 2020,

[1:55:29] 36-0049, which is a motion authorizing the Chair of King County Council to sign letters

[1:55:37] to the Chair of some Vice Chair of the Washington State Senate House representatives, Transportation

[1:55:42] Committees, the Senate, Ways and Means Committee, House of Representatives, appropriation

[1:55:47] committee related to the county's priorities in the state budget council member borrown,

[1:55:51] which you please move the item.

[1:55:53] Sir, Chair, do we have a pending motion on the other item?

[1:55:56] Sir, do you want to?

[1:55:57] One moment.

[1:55:58] I think the motion is pending.

[1:56:01] Yes.

[1:56:02] Just kidding.

[1:56:04] Okay.

[1:56:05] Moving backwards.

[1:56:06] One moment.

[1:56:07] Thank you.

[1:56:08] So, do we have after executive session?

[1:56:11] We are a return from executive session.

[1:56:14] We've heard the opening comments.

[1:56:16] We've heard the report from Jake Tracy.

[1:56:19] Is there any other discussion before our vote?

[1:56:26] Just a note of appreciation, colleagues.

[1:56:28] I know that you all believe as local government, we are best positioned to understand and create

[1:56:33] regulations around the use of land that both have broad community and neighbor-specific impacts.

[1:56:38] Things like health and safety, infrastructure and capacity, environmental concerns.

[1:56:43] This body is considered those items in previous moratorium.

[1:56:46] With this moratorium, I believe we are furthering that commitment to health and safety.

[1:56:49] Again, I want to thank Erin House on my Chief of Staff for her due diligence to work on this.

[1:56:54] Jake Tracy, as you heard, has very much been a leader in helping to evaluate strategies

[1:57:01] for this moratorium in front of us.

[1:57:03] And I want to thank all of the council's legal staff, the Prosecuting Attorney's Office, the executive

[1:57:08] team, including Michelle Worshkel, who is the deputy policy director and the entire policy team there.

[1:57:13] Everybody has had thoughtful and diligent work on this.

[1:57:16] And again, I recognize that this body does not consider emergency legislation often.

[1:57:21] I thank you for engaging in this.

[1:57:23] Thank you for making this county stronger.

[1:57:25] And thank you for your commitment to work with our partner jurisdictions to really invest in the health

[1:57:30] and safety of our residents with that.

[1:57:32] I appreciate your consideration of this moratorium.

[1:57:35] Thank you so much.

[1:57:36] Council Member Mosquita, does anyone else have any closing statements?

[1:57:39] Councillor Council Member, Vice Chair Burrow, I mean Vice Chair Dunn.

[1:57:43] Thanks.

[1:57:44] I appreciate the tent spirit of legislation.

[1:57:46] I appreciate the staff work on it.

[1:57:47] I just, you know, moratoriums are serious tools to use.

[1:57:55] They're sort of a blunt instrument and used, I think, in the most serious situations where a

[1:58:02] series threat will happen if a land use decision is made.

[1:58:08] This legislation well intended is designed to make a statement towards one specific federal

[1:58:16] agency, which is fine, I think there are ways to do that that don't use the land use moratorium

[1:58:22] as the vehicle to do that.

[1:58:25] Like a motion, for example, making a statement of policy for the council.

[1:58:31] So I can't, I can't, I can't support it.

[1:58:35] I think that, you know, there's not an emergency here, it's declaring an emergency.

[1:58:41] It has the potential to tie the hands of jurisdictions, various kinds, including King County.

[1:58:47] If there was an earthquake or a fire or something happened to an existing jail and we need

[1:58:55] to use a warehouse, that would be a problem.

[1:58:57] So I think there's a lot of reasons why this is not good.

[1:59:00] Also 12 months is a lot.

[1:59:01] Historically, we've done more time.

[1:59:03] We've done six months or four months, 12 months is a long, a long time and I'm concerned

[1:59:10] about potential for litigation on the matter as well under the super emergency class.

[1:59:14] So I'm going to vote now.

[1:59:15] Thank you.

[1:59:16] Thank you, Vice Chair Dunn.

[1:59:18] Vice Chair Brun.

[1:59:19] Thank you, Chair.

[1:59:21] I appreciate, I guess, when we'll discuss work on this on this issue as well as staff on it, I just

[1:59:30] want to reiterate that this is giving us time to make an informed decision about what long-term

[1:59:38] regulations we need to have with regard to the tension facilities and I do want to emphasize

[1:59:43] that this applies to local and state and federal detention facilities as defined in the

[1:59:51] ordinance.

[1:59:52] So I don't think it applies only to the federal government and or federally run facilities.

[2:00:00] And I appreciate the work and I will support this ordinance, and I would like to be added as a co-sponsor, and I'll send an email to follow up on that.

[2:00:11] Thank you.

[2:00:12] Thank you, Vice-chair Barone, any other discussion?

[2:00:14] Closing statement? Council member Dimbowski.

[2:00:16] Thank you, Chair Perry, rising in support of the ordinance, one to thank Council Member Muscat, a further leadership.

[2:00:23] You know, as we've seen these facilities built and expanded around the country, I think that a moratorium is appropriate

[2:00:29] to figure out here in King County, what we ought to have in terms of land use regulations for them.

[2:00:36] For example in Florida, where you saw them build what they called alligator alcatraz.

[2:00:42] There was tremendous environmental damage done there, because of the speed and haste in which that facility was built.

[2:00:50] There was not adequate care for the humans that were incarcerated or incarcerated there.

[2:00:57] And that turned out to be kind of a humanitarian and an ecological disaster.

[2:01:02] One of the things that this moratorium would allow us to do is to assess the nature of these facilities and what the federal government is proposing.

[2:01:11] And make sure that our environmental laws and regulations and development conditions that we've got some, because today we don't.

[2:01:20] And that's of key part of this legislation in Portland, Oregon, where they operate out of a least facility in the south part of town.

[2:01:30] Again, there's been land use violations there in contravention of the city of Portland's restrictions on the time with which someone could be held and were imposed upon that facility when the permit was granted.

[2:01:46] What rules we have, what rules are we allowed to have, this moratorium allows us to do that.

[2:01:53] The other dynamic here that's different is the federal government appears to be undertaking an effort to acquire.

[2:02:01] Maybe sometimes build just general warehouses, which is to my knowledge really never been done on a large scale to incarcerate humans.

[2:02:12] We ought to take a look at that. We ought to understand our power and ability as a local government to regulate that.

[2:02:19] And if we have the authority to do that, what should those rules and regulations be to protect people.

[2:02:25] So I think that this legislation is thoughtful, timely and necessary just on those examples alone.

[2:02:33] And that's even though I don't like moratorium. I voted against a few of them. This one all support. Thank you.

[2:02:41] Thank you. Councilmember DEMVASKI. Councilmember Lewis.

[2:02:44] I just want to say briefly. Thank you to Councilmember Mosqueta for her work and for her urgency about this moratorium.

[2:02:53] Thank you to staff who worked on it. I'm pleased to support it and I'd like to be added as a co-sponsor.

[2:03:01] Thank you. Councilmember Lewis any other councilmember.

[2:03:05] Thank you. And I echo the thanks to Councilmember Mosqueta and her staff and our central staff, Jake Tracy.

[2:03:14] I support the intent of this motion as a temporary pause to allow for thoughtful planning.

[2:03:21] I see it as an opportunity to ensure clarity in our land use code before new facilities before much like my colleagues have said.

[2:03:30] And I think that with those with the guardrails we have in place, we are striking the right balance, which gives us the opportunity to create clear policies while avoiding unintended consequences, which I know have been raised here today.

[2:03:49] I'm very confident to allow for many more details.

[2:03:54] I also feel comforted by the opportunities to meet as a body and revisit the moratorium, revise moratorium in terms of emergencies.

[2:03:59] And so for those reasons, I will support the motion as well. Thank you.

[2:04:04] Thank you very much. Councilmember Bellty. Thank you. Not to be labor things, but I'll support the moratorium.

[2:04:11] I think the challenge we're having now was seen rapid attempts to expand detention capacity without

[2:04:16] expand detention capacity without going through the careful thoughtful processes that we,

[2:04:22] as a government, have always gone through when we have tried to and have actually cited

[2:04:26] such facilities, it's incumbent on us to make sure things are done when they are done

[2:04:32] in a way that is commensurate with our values, with our rules and laws, with our community.

[2:04:40] And I think this gives us the opportunity to do that, so I would also like to add my

[2:04:43] name as a co-sponsor.

[2:04:44] Thank you.

[2:04:45] Thank you.

[2:04:46] Any other comments?

[2:04:47] I'm closing.

[2:04:49] Okay.

[2:04:50] Thank you very much.

[2:04:52] At this point, let's have a roll call.

[2:04:55] Clarifying that we're voting on item 14, 2026-0048.

[2:05:00] Correct.

[2:05:01] Councilmember Bauducci.

[2:05:03] Bye.

[2:05:04] Hi.

[2:05:05] Hi.

[2:05:06] No.

[2:05:09] Councilmember Fiend.

[2:05:12] Hi.

[2:05:13] Councilmember Lewis.

[2:05:14] I.

[2:05:15] Councilmember Muscata.

[2:05:17] Hi.

[2:05:18] Councilmember von Reikbar.

[2:05:20] No.

[2:05:21] Chair Perry.

[2:05:23] Aye.

[2:05:24] The vote is seven eyes and Councilmember's done in von Reikbar voting no.

[2:05:31] Thank you.

[2:05:32] By our vote, we've adopted.

[2:05:36] Six.

[2:05:37] That's zero.

[2:05:38] Four.

[2:05:39] Eight.

[2:05:40] Moving on.

[2:05:41] To.

[2:05:42] Motion.

[2:05:43] As I said, authorizing the chair.

[2:05:44] King County Council, the sign letter to the chair.

[2:05:46] Some vice chairs of the Washington State Senate and House of Representatives.

[2:05:49] Transportation committees, the Senate Ways and Means Committee and the House

[2:05:52] Representatives.

[2:05:54] Committee related to the county's priorities in the state budget.

[2:05:57] That's zero.

[2:05:58] That's two zero.

[2:05:59] Two.

[2:06:00] Six.

[2:06:01] That's zero.

[2:06:03] Would you please move.

[2:06:04] The item.

[2:06:05] I move proposed motion 20260049.

[2:06:08] Thank you.

[2:06:09] Colleagues as a state legislative session comes to a close.

[2:06:12] Legislators currently negotiating supplemental transportation and operating budgets that will impact programs.

[2:06:17] County residents deeply rely on.

[2:06:19] In particular, there are pieces of legislation that have amendments that could have severe impacts on budget,

[2:06:24] especially for Metro.

[2:06:26] And how many of us have been advocating over the last few days on these budget issues in the other

[2:06:31] important topics we've included in our legislative agenda.

[2:06:34] But the need to raise concern about the impacts on our budget and the impacts that will have on services.

[2:06:39] Our residents rely on is critical.

[2:06:41] As such, I partnered with Executive Zahalai and sharing a united message from King County

[2:06:46] through two letters to legislative leaders, Washington State Senate and House of Representatives

[2:06:50] Transportation committees, the Senate Ways and Means Committee and the House of Representatives

[2:06:54] Appropriations Committee.

[2:06:56] As this is a time sensitive issue, I'm bringing this motion forward today.

[2:07:00] With your support, I will sign this letter and my capacity as chair of the council and work with

[2:07:04] the executive to get it out today.

[2:07:06] Colleagues, when you see who from Central Staff is available to answer questions, do my colleagues have any questions or comments?

[2:07:12] I have a question chair.

[2:07:14] Council member Balducci.

[2:07:15] I understand we're being asked to consider two letters today.

[2:07:20] We were given copies of them.

[2:07:22] They both look good.

[2:07:23] One is about the operating budget.

[2:07:24] The other one is regarding the transportation budget.

[2:07:28] It seems to me that the biggest threat slash opportunity to county finances is in a different set of activities,

[2:07:39] which is the vote on the so-called millionaires tax to remove the plan or propose at one point pass through to public defense

[2:07:50] to help us pay as a county for the significant costs of meeting the new public defense standards.

[2:07:57] And as part of that action, repealing the sales tax on services that was adopted in a prior session that was responsible for,

[2:08:07] I believe, something like $70 million a year or more on average in the future for Metro services.

[2:08:14] On the one hand, we have these increasing costs of public defense that are not being supported.

[2:08:21] And on the other hand, we have gotten a vote to bring down or to fund Metro that is now being taken away.

[2:08:31] So we are losing and losing.

[2:08:33] I know, and thank you, Chair Perry, that you have written to the legislature to speak to those issues.

[2:08:41] And I know that the county executive joined in a joint letter with the executives of Snohomish and Pierce County to address one of those two issues.

[2:08:50] But there has not been, I think it's powerful to have a joint communication between the executive branch and the legislature.

[2:08:55] That's why we lobby together. That's why our lobbying teams work together to have a message on the two things that are impacting our bottom line, the most this session.

[2:09:04] So I would like if there's an opportunity today to also empower the chair to work with the executive to sign a letter, a third letter that is on a third topic, which is this taxation policy.

[2:09:17] So operating budget, Metro budget and taxation policy.

[2:09:21] I think those would cover the the top things that are impacting us right now.

[2:09:26] And certainly would be happy to amplify all three letters with my districts representatives if we can approve those things.

[2:09:35] I don't know procedurally how we would do that.

[2:09:38] Wendy, you see who will join us to discuss the procedure and I'm very open to this if this is something we can accomplish today.

[2:09:47] I am joining it just briefly so I can point your legal counsel who can advise you very good that's procedure.

[2:09:52] Very good legal counsel will now join us and tell us about this procedure.

[2:10:05] The proposal would be to authorize the chair to sign another letter with the county executive.

[2:10:11] If we don't have to approve the county executive, if we can do whatever he wants, but here we have I don't know if it's an amendment I think it's a I think it's a verbal motion.

[2:10:23] We're in turn on.

[2:10:25] You can get a higher motion please.

[2:10:27] Monique Cohen legal counsel for the council.

[2:10:30] We could either do a verbal motion and amend the substantive portion of the motion to add to authorize the chair to also send a third letter.

[2:10:40] I think the problem with that is there's no attachment to see to the motion.

[2:10:44] So the question for you is.

[2:10:47] I think so just to catch everyone up there are two attachments to the motion and attachment A and attachment B there are two letters.

[2:10:57] One related transportation and the other related more broadly to the operating budget.

[2:11:03] I think council member Balducci is suggesting a third attachment and attachment.

[2:11:09] And what I am wondering is could they take a procedural could they discuss and authorize the chair in concept to.

[2:11:18] To do that we could do a separate motion.

[2:11:20] A separate verbal motion outside.

[2:11:29] You can vote on this letter in this procedure.

[2:11:33] I want to be with this point and then do a separate verbal motion.

[2:11:37] To do a third letter.

[2:11:39] Very good separate from just very good.

[2:11:41] Thank you very much.

[2:11:42] Are there any other discussions on this motion that's in front front of us.

[2:11:45] Can we call for a vote please.

[2:11:53] Sorry the motion that's in front of us comes member of our own moved motion.

[2:11:57] Twenty twenty six dash zero zero four nine as is.

[2:12:01] And we have no more discussion from our colleagues so.

[2:12:05] Please call the roll on zero two is two two zero two six dash zero four nine.

[2:12:13] Council member Balducci.

[2:12:16] I.

[2:12:17] Council member button.

[2:12:18] I.

[2:12:19] Council member Dimbowski.

[2:12:20] Council member done.

[2:12:22] I.

[2:12:23] Council member.

[2:12:26] I.

[2:12:27] Council member Lewis.

[2:12:28] I.

[2:12:29] Council member Muscat.

[2:12:30] I.

[2:12:31] Council member of on right bar.

[2:12:34] Chair Perry.

[2:12:35] I.

[2:12:36] The vote is eight eyes zero nose and Council member of on right bar.

[2:12:40] Excuse.

[2:12:41] Thank you by our vote.

[2:12:42] We've adopted proposed motion twenty twenty six dash zero zero four nine.

[2:12:46] And we do we have another motion.

[2:12:48] I would like to move to suspend the rules to take action on a verbal motion to be made subsequently.

[2:12:55] Without referral to committee.

[2:12:58] Thank you.

[2:13:01] Do we yes all those in favor say aye.

[2:13:04] I.

[2:13:05] I.

[2:13:06] All those opposed nay.

[2:13:07] Okay.

[2:13:08] Okay.

[2:13:09] This is the heart of what I would like to move.

[2:13:12] That the council authorized chair Perry to sign on to a letter with council member with a county executive

[2:13:18] majority.

[2:13:19] The puts the forward.

[2:13:22] This.

[2:13:24] What.

[2:13:26] Okay.

[2:13:27] Nope.

[2:13:28] That.

[2:13:29] XI is.

[2:13:30] allowing the policy in increasing funding.

[2:13:32] Think.

[2:13:35] Go back.

[2:13:36] Have to have any more questions.

[2:13:47] It's a move.

[2:13:50] Some moved.

[2:13:51] Are you?

[2:13:52] You're moving that.

[2:13:54] Questions?

[2:13:55] Comments?

[2:13:56] From the council?

[2:13:58] Sure.

[2:13:59] Councilmember Dimpasky.

[2:14:00] Thank you.

[2:14:01] I appreciate the general thrust of this.

[2:14:03] I have a little different view on the carve out for public defense funding in the Millionaires

[2:14:09] Tax Legislation.

[2:14:10] I agree that we definitely need state help for that.

[2:14:15] There's just, I would rather see that item separately handled in the state budget given that

[2:14:22] the Millionaires Tax Legislation, maybe going to the voters and their strategies around messaging.

[2:14:27] So I wonder, councilmember, I'll do G if we could rather than explicitly tie it to that bill

[2:14:34] if we could express our desire and need and support for additional state support to

[2:14:38] fund our public defense obligations, but maybe not so explicitly tie it to that inclusion

[2:14:44] in that particular bill.

[2:14:45] In other words, you could raise the revenue from that bill, and then add the legislatures

[2:14:49] appropriate.

[2:14:50] But you see what I'm saying, just a slight separation there.

[2:14:54] Councilmember Bell Ducci, I would consider that a friendly amendment with a slight.

[2:15:00] And a tweak would be to say, we express our support collectively that public defense obligations be funded, at approximately the level that has been being discussed in the millionaires tax, this session, however, they may fund it.

[2:15:20] Yes, that would be a friendly amendment in those terms.

[2:15:24] And this is all just authorizing the letter. This is not trying to write the letter.

[2:15:28] So that's why what we're doing.

[2:15:30] Yeah, that's great. That sounds good. Thank you.

[2:15:32] Thank you. Thank you. Okay, thank you.

[2:15:34] So any other comments on from our colleagues on this, council number faint.

[2:15:38] I am in support of encouraging the legislature to fund the public defense funds

[2:15:48] for counties. It was the sales tax repeal that I'm not as familiar with.

[2:15:56] And I wonder if is that needed in this, I think the public defense funds are pretty critical.

[2:16:04] Not comfortable with the second part yet.

[2:16:07] Councilmember Valdeux, you would you'd like to speak to that?

[2:16:09] Yeah, that is really actually a critical part of this motion that it is the.

[2:16:15] As part of the tax policy debate that is happening in Olympia right now.

[2:16:21] There is a move to repeal a tax that was voted on previously.

[2:16:27] With regard to that that that would have provided significant funding to Metro that we built our budget in reliance on our projections that we would receive that funding and now it is being taken away.

[2:16:39] And so it is important to me and one can vote however one chooses obviously I'm one of nine but it is important to me that we send the message that the sales tax should not be repealed.

[2:16:51] And again we're authorizing a letter.

[2:16:55] So without changing the motion or prewriting the letter.

[2:16:59] The chair I think would be empowered by this motion should it pass.

[2:17:03] To add more language that said things like.

[2:17:07] Or help us by replacing that funding you know like I think you could add language.

[2:17:11] As long as it wasn't contradictory to the direction and I'm looking at our lawyer to see if she agrees that that is the case.

[2:17:19] You're off.

[2:17:23] Wait there you.

[2:17:25] I agree that that is the case that you are authorizing the chair to.

[2:17:29] Crafting a letter and authorizing her to send that based on the discussion that has happened today if this motion.

[2:17:35] If it passes that that's that I do understand that there might be differences of opinion.

[2:17:39] Thank you other comments.

[2:17:43] I think council member didn't.

[2:17:45] Thanks I didn't.

[2:17:47] I didn't.

[2:17:51] Added my express support for council member.

[2:17:53] I did she's notion on the sales tax reduction from services.

[2:17:57] The as those of us who served on the budget leadership team.

[2:17:59] No and I think everybody here but those in that BLT room.

[2:18:01] No especially the expanded scope of the sales tax was foundational.

[2:18:05] In our ability to craft an adopted budget.

[2:18:07] Obviously Metro word nine tenths of any of your sales tax goes to fund that service.

[2:18:11] It's a big deal.

[2:18:13] But it also affects our mid fund and dependency which is a tenth of a penny.

[2:18:17] Our health through housing fund which is another tenth of a penny.

[2:18:21] And then some little bit of sales tax that we get from the corporate area on a relative scale.

[2:18:25] But what's that?

[2:18:27] And the doors open as well which is a fund for culture.

[2:18:31] So we have a very sales tax heavy dependent budget.

[2:18:35] And we would be we are looking at tens of millions of dollars.

[2:18:39] And tens of tens of tens of tens of tens of millions of

[2:18:43] Resisions in critical services.

[2:18:45] Including transit including arts and culture including housing including mental health.

[2:18:49] Including substance use disorder services.

[2:18:53] If they.

[2:18:55] I'll say it kind of won't we pull the rug out from under us after we rely on it.

[2:18:59] So we would I think it's a very timely and good letter.

[2:19:03] Try and preserve that.

[2:19:05] And at a minimum.

[2:19:07] If you're going to remove it give us a runway to plan.

[2:19:09] You know the we adopted to your budget here and we're just in the beginning of it.

[2:19:13] So it would be absolute turmoil to be honest with you.

[2:19:17] If we.

[2:19:19] Our no longer able to collect those expected revenues.

[2:19:23] Absolute turmoil.

[2:19:25] Yeah, the it's something like 159 million over the Bayonium that we are losing.

[2:19:29] If it sits as is.

[2:19:31] With the amendment in and all of the areas that.

[2:19:35] The council member Jim Bowsky mentioned it's a critical piece for our residents.

[2:19:39] And it's a it's a devastating blow to us if this passes as is.

[2:19:43] Yeah, so.

[2:19:45] As chair I accept the motion I'd like to call for a vote on the bias.

[2:19:51] At this point if there are no other comments.

[2:19:53] Okay.

[2:19:55] Ask for an I suppose.

[2:19:57] All those.

[2:19:59] I'm just saying it didn't wait.

[2:20:05] This is a verbal motion and so there's no number attached to it so you can just call the vote on the voice vote.

[2:20:11] Thank you Monique all those in favor of the motion made by council member.

[2:20:17] About duty as stated please say I.

[2:20:21] I was opposed say nay.

[2:20:23] Okay, by our vote this passes.

[2:20:25] And I will.

[2:20:27] I'd like to provide this it might just writing it or providing it for review as well to make sure it meets the intentions in general.

[2:20:39] You as chair will or have been authorized to write the letter based on what was discussed here today.

[2:20:43] And then you can sign it on behalf of the council reflecting the council's vote and policy executive.

[2:20:49] So we're together with him on thank you very much.

[2:20:51] But before we adjourn to my colleagues of any for the business for the good of the order.

[2:20:54] Okay.

[2:20:55] With that seeing no further business before.

[2:20:57] Council member.

[2:20:58] Mosquito.

[2:20:59] Just for the good of the order.

[2:21:00] I did want to let my colleagues know that I will not be here next Tuesday for family trips.

[2:21:06] I wanted to apologize in advance.

[2:21:08] Thank you very much and seeing no for the business before us this meeting is adjourned.

Metropolitan King County Council on 2026-03-03 1:30 PM - REVISED AGENDA - ADDED ITEMS 14-15

Agenda

Transcript