Our 17th, 20, 26 meeting of the King County Council. I'm Sarah Perry, chair of the Council, joined by Vice
Chair's Horey Barone and Vice Chair Rick and Done, and our county, our council colleagues today,
and this meeting is called to order. Before we begin, please join me in acknowledging
that we are on the traditional lands of the Puget, Salish People's Fast, and present. We think
these caretakers of this land who have lived here and continue to live here since time and
memorial, bringing the cultural ways of life and greatly enriching our communities. With that
third, K, would you please call the rule? Thank you chair Perry, council member of Ldogeer.
Member Barone.
Here.
Council member Dunbasker.
Here.
Council member Fain. Here. Council member Lewis. Here. Council member Mosqueta. Here. Council member of
Honouric Barone. Council member of Honouric Barone.
Here.
Chair Perry. Here. You have a full quorum.
Thank you.
At next, please join us in the pledge of allegiance led by council member Beltucci. Would you please rise
if you're able?
Join in the pledge.
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands.
Thank you.
Moving to approval of minutes by Sherbroon may please have a motion to approve the minutes of March
10th, 2026 council meeting.
Thank you.
The motion is before us. All those in favour say aye.
Aye.
All opposed say nay.
Minutes are approved.
Clerk.
Are there any additions to the council?
I have none.
Agenda.
No.
Before we proceed with the rest of today's agenda.
Wanted to take a note for the record that a one week courtesy delay for taking action on item seven proposed ordinance
2026-0027 has been requested by council member.
The legislation concerns limiting the use of King County owned and controlled property.
Unless two council members object, I will grant that request.
Which means there will be no final action on this proposed ordinance today.
And for that reason, we will not be taking public comment on it today as was noted in the agenda sent to public last week.
This proposed ordinance will be taken up that next week's council meeting at which time public comments will be welcome.
Additionally, I want to note that there has been a request from a council member to remove item 13 proposed motion.
2026-0017 from the consent agenda so that it may be discussed before the council takes final action.
This legislation concerns that at the agenda related research.
There's also been a request from a council member for a one week courtesy delay for taking action on this item as well.
Unless two council members object, I'm granting both of those requests.
There will be no final action on this proposed motion today.
But because of this late notice to the public, we will be taking public comment on item 13.
And when this item is taken up next week's council meeting, it will be on the regular calendar.
And we'll take public comments at that time.
Are there any objections to either of those?
Okay, seeing none.
We will we will postpone and pull from the consent.
With that turning next to two special items on the agenda, the first special item is a proclamation.
Recognizing transit appreciation, we can King County led by King County Executive,
Garmatza Halai and council member Spain and Balduchi.
Is the executive here with us and Chambers?
Yes?
Okay, great.
Please.
Please go ahead when you want to have a look at this.
I'm going to go ahead.
Yeah.
That's a nice coat.
I think you're working out a closet.
Mr. Zimmerman, would you please move the seating so the sign
is not behind the folks that are speaking at the podium?
Would you please remove the sign so that the people who are speaking at the podium?
Do you not have that behind them?
Mr. Zimmerman, would you please move your seat?
Or would you like to leave chambers?
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.
Please.
All right.
That is a, that is a notice.
Thank you.
Please go ahead whenever you're ready.
Executive and council members.
I'll do anything.
Thank you so much.
So much.
Councils Chair.
Council colleagues really appreciate the opportunity to be able to celebrate this very special week.
Transit appreciation week.
We know that every single year we have the opportunity to recognize the people who make our region move.
And it is great to do it every year.
But I think this year is special.
I think we would all agree that this might be the most important year for transit in our region's history.
We've been able to open dozens or multiple light rail stations.
Metro has expanded service hours by hundreds of thousands of hours and moved service towards South King County in really important ways.
We've seen the tap to pay, which is an incredible feature that King County Metro just rolled out across all of its services.
We're going to see the historic cross lake connection.
Councilmember Belduci.
We've seen record breaking ridership on the Seahawks parade day.
And we're going to see it again with FIFA World Cup.
And so in every way this year is going to be very historic.
And of course, those accomplishments don't happen without the thousands of people at King County Metro.
I stand on transit and across our regional transportation systems who really do that work every day.
And so it's truly an honor to be able to recognize those individuals, those teams.
And thank you all so much for giving me this fancy jacket that I get to wear.
You can't miss me anywhere now when I wear this.
So I'm excited to read this proclamation with my two colleagues here, but I want to give them a moment to say their words as well.
Thank you so much.
Thank you to the representative of the elected representatives of my colleagues and to the representatives from Metro Transit who are here today to help us celebrate this annual recognition of our transit operators and employees.
As a regular transit rider myself I am endlessly appreciative of the ways that our employees help people get around and that means they drive the buses.
They drive the trains.
They help make sure everything is working correctly.
So when people are having problems, when I can't get that bike rack to work, I can't tell
you how many times somebody has hopped off to help me get the bike rack to work.
When people are in struggling and living on the streets and they need help to get somewhere,
we see acts of professionalism and support and care and mercy every single day.
And it goes so far beyond the job description, I just couldn't be more proud of our Metro
transit and sound transit workforce and you truly deliver on the promises that we put
words to.
We talk about access to opportunity, we talk about equity, we talk about mobility, none of
that happens without our transit workforce.
And so I am delighted to join in with my colleagues here today to honor tomorrow as Metro
Transit Operations Week and Day.
And we'll be out with our signs.
Take a look out for us because we'll be out there to do it in person as well.
Thank you.
I'm excited to join Council Member Belduci and Executive Zahalai in recognizing March 22nd to 28th
as Transit Appreciation Week here in King County and there's so much to appreciate about
our transit system from our outstanding team at King County Metro to our dedicated transit
operators and workers to the writers who rely on transit every day.
And I'm proud to co-sponsor this legislation as chair of the Transportation Economy and Environment
Committee and the Regional Transit Committee as a member of the Sound Transit Board.
And perhaps more importantly, as a longtime writer of Lightlink, Link, Light rail and former
Metro Route 71 and 76, which some of us are still a little nostalgic about.
Hearing these different transit hats is a good reminder of how interconnected our system really
is.
It takes a lot of coordination between agencies, governments, partners and advocates to keep everything
moving.
And at the center of it all are the people who show up every day to make sure the buses run and
the system works.
Speaking for my team, most of us quite literally wouldn't be here today without the workforce behind
our transit system.
With us today in Chambers, we have great woodville president of a Malchumated Transit Union
587, Jack Millman, Transit Operator of the Year, Justin Umagot, Leadership American Public
Transportation Association, Class of 2025, and incredible members of our Metro staff.
Tomorrow is National Transit Operator Appreciation Day, but our gratitude for our operators
and entire transit workforce extends far beyond tomorrow.
We also have a lot to look forward to this year from expanded Metro service to our new
sound transit light rail stations to major events like 2026, Beefa World Cup.
I look forward to celebrating with all of you tomorrow, next week, and throughout the year.
We will go ahead and read the proclamation and then we will invite Ernest Condiligy, King County
Metro's Deputy General Manager to the podium.
And if you'd like to join us now for the reading the proclamation, you're more than welcome.
Okay, I'll kick us off here.
Whereas King County Metro is a nationally recognized regional transit system responsible for
the operation and maintenance of buses, street cars, light rail, the King County Water Taxi,
the vanpool's on-demand and access paritransit services and.
Whereas King County Metro employs over 6,100 people who operates support, clean, maintain,
repair, and provide safety to a system that moves over 300,000 passengers across buses, boats,
trains, and street cars daily and.
Whereas the divisions that make up King County Metro, our bus operations, capital, employee services,
finance administration, marine mobility, rail, safety, security, and quality assurance,
transit facilities, vehicle maintenance, and general manager's office, which includes equity, inclusion,
and belonging, office of equal employment, opportunity, metro transit, police, internal communications,
and employee engagement, strategic communications, and marketing, and partnerships, and engagement.
And no, we didn't miss anyone.
Whereas King County Metro is proud of being a mobility system where writers can use transit
to access life-changing opportunities, a dream job, an education, medical treatment, a family
event, or a new home, and.
Whereas in 2026, King County Metro will have new battery electric buses with operator safety
partitions that will better protect our drivers while they serve the public every day and.
Whereas for the second year in a row, the American Public Transportation Association announced
that among the nation's large transit agencies, those with 50 million or more annual trips, King
County Metro ranked second in the percentage of ridership increase over the past year and.
Whereas March 18th is transit operator appreciation day, a national celebration developed by
Seattle Transit advocates that recognizes King County Metro's rolling and floating ambassadors,
the operators for the job they do in safely transporting their passengers and.
Whereas we extend this recognition for all employees of King County Metro, who continue to keep
the region moving, providing safe, clean, reliable, and courteous service to each other and the public.
Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, now therefore we the Metropolitan King County Council and
the King County Executive proclaim the week of March 22nd to 28th, 2026 as transit appreciation
week in King County as we celebrate, recognize and thank all of the people responsible for a world
class mobility system that continues to build fast frequent reliable, all day services that are
both prioritized and co-created for those with the greatest need of public transit dated the 17th day
of March 26th and signed by all nine council members.
Thank you Mr. Executive and council members for joining us and celebrating the work of
the over 6,100 people who are so proud to deliver our regional mobility system.
I am Ernest Candelgi and I serve as the deputy general manager, King County Metro.
I also want to express my sincere thanks to my colleagues fellow Metro employees who have
joined us here today, people who represent the best of the best in the hijabs. Thank you for joining me
here today. When I see our employees go the extra mile to show care and support to how our
riders feel on the system, I'm not exaggerating. We truly deliver care and support and an example
is Jack Metro's so proud of the year when he saw an injured rider, he helped the rider,
put it in a tonic on the injury while calling for medical assistance. Thank you for everything you do for us.
We are entrusted to help everyone in our community, regardless of ability, income and identity,
to get where they need to go geographically and in life. Every one of our 300,000 daily riders can
travel where they're going on a system that is safe, clean and reliable. On our buses, the light
trains, water taxis, street cars, access, and
MetroFlex services. Thanks to them, our system runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It will always
take people to move people. For riders, our transit operators are the most important human connection
to our transit system. The people joining me today represent the faces you see every day as well as the
people who are behind the scenes. The other people who keep our buses and facilities clean,
they ensure our operators and passengers are safe and advance our capital projects that make
transit more accessible and user friendly for all. All of Metro employees are vital and this is
day a week to be recognized. Wednesday, March 18 is transit operator appreciation day, which celebrates
the 2,500 operators of our buses, street cars, vans, light rail and water taxes. More broadly,
transit appreciation week starts next week. Mike 22nd through the 28th and so tomorrow and next week
we hope our riders will take the time to say thank you and provide a smile and a wave and remember
all who work for Metro and their commitment to ensuring all who write with us and those who drive
them where they need to go as safe every time this step onto the bus. Thank you for this opportunity
to celebrate all who work in transit. We are so proud of the job they do, providing the best possible
transit services in the nation every single day. Thank you.
colleagues, would you like to join us for a photo? Colleagues, please step on down by the podium for a
photo. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you to take that.
All right, my first one, two, three, we'll look at the middle here, one, two, three,
two, three, we have a final.
All right, thank you council members at Wanderfull Proclamation and
And next, we'll have a proclamation recommending March, 2026, as women's history month in
King County, the majority of the council will step down.
Council members, Bell Ducci, Faye, and Lewis Muscata, and I will present this proclamation
together.
All right.
Chair colleagues, I am so thrilled to join all of my sisters here on the County Council
to present this proclamation.
We do this every year.
This year is special, because we're in charge.
We're on the world, right?
I get to stand here with four amazing women colleagues.
The first time the King County Council has been made up of a majority of women.
I'm also so excited to welcome our special guests to accept the proclamation today, Nora
Adam, who you will hear from in a moment.
She brought her family as well, including Adam, who was our district's sixth intern, student
intern, not that long ago.
Let me tell you a bit about Nora.
Nora helped start community conversations, which was a program in Bellevue that started with a
simple idea, bringing together women from all walks of life, different races, religions, length
of residents, to talk, to talk about their lives, to ask questions, to not be afraid to ask
any questions.
Why do you wear that head scarf was one of the early questions, and to get to know one another
and build community and build strength in our diverse communities, which is something we just
need so much and something that I do think that women uniquely bring to our government and
to our communities.
Nora also founded the Immigrant Women's Community Center, an organization run by women for
women that provides services from case management to small business assistance to peace building,
and this is the kind of own organization we need, sadly, more than ever right now.
Nora is the kind of woman that we should support and celebrate during women's history month, but
also every single month.
We're going to do this part by seniority, Porter, I understand, so I'm going to invite my colleague
in our chair, Council Member Perry, to say a few words.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
I am honored to co-sponsored this proclamation, recognizing women's history month.
Celebrating all the contributions women make every single day to help our communities thrive,
and honored to be celebrating this occasion with the first ever majority female King County
Council, very exciting.
This year's Women's History Month theme leading the change, women shaping a sustainable future.
Speaks to the challenge of the present moment and honors all women who have fought in the past,
are fighting today and will continue to fight into the future to hold our communities together
and pave the way for a better future for all.
Women in Washington State still makes 76 cents for every dollar, men make, and women continue
to bear the brunt of childcare and elder care needs in our communities, often limiting their
opportunities for career advancement and increased salaries.
A sustainable future includes protecting our environment and ensuring both access and opportunities
for economic advancement, for women to create a stable and resilient community where everyone
can thrive, a world we would be proud to pass on to our next generation.
Through this proclamation, we're recognizing the critically important yet often overlooked work
that women contribute to families, careers, community organizations, and neighborhoods to keep everything
moving.
And lastly, I want to give a special thank you to, as has been noted, the wonderful women sharing
this proclamation with me, my colleagues, council members, Beldiu Chima Skeda, Lewis and
Fain for your motivating leadership and work together to build access and opportunities
for all women throughout King County and beyond.
And now, council member, most good?
All right.
Well, I want to tell you a quick story.
Some of the audience know my daughter as she is now six.
When she was four years old, I picked her up from school and we were driving home and she
said to me, why does Trump not like women?
He doesn't like girls, she asked me.
And it was a moment where I realized she had been listening in on NPR when I've been driving.
She's listening to the radio, she's listening to the TV when I have it on in the background.
And somehow it had sunk into her that there was a disparity in terms of how the federal government
is treating women and girls.
I had said nothing to her.
And so today is a good opportunity for us to tell the residents of this county.
Your voice, your leadership, your presence here in King County is represented.
We are represented here on King County Council.
We are standing up to protect your voice to make sure that kiddos across this region know
that we are protecting and investing in girls and women in this county.
As opposed to what we are hearing from the federal hate and vitriol at the federal level,
we're standing up and showing our pride and the opportunity to look at our resilience and
strength.
I'm proud to be one of five women, historic number on King County Council.
I'm proud that we continue to push forward policies that fight against the discrimination
that we continue to see in public policies today.
I'm proud that we center legislation on correcting historic wrongs and recognizing that women
are more likely to face housing, discrimination, more likely to face employment, discrimination,
more likely to face wage theft, more likely to be fearful and face intimidation when they
experience these issues and are worried about who to speak up.
When you can speak up, this council is listening.
We're happy to represent you and we are happy collectively to use our feminist power to fight back
for all here in King County.
Thank you so much.
I'd like to take a moment to recognize one of the most significant women in King County's history,
and then is a former King County Council member Ruby Chow.
In 1974, she became the first Asian-American elected to the King County Council and one of
the first Asian-American women to hold public office in Washington State.
She served on the Council for 12 years, including a term as Council Chair.
At a time when opportunities for women and immigrants in politics were limited, she brought
an independent voice and a deep commitment to public service that helped shape King County,
helped shape the King County that we know today.
Her leadership broke barriers and brought in what representation in local government could look
like for generations that followed.
I'm proud to follow in her wake, and please to present this proclamation today.
Thank you, Nora, for your work in empowering and supporting immigrant and refugee women
and families.
Women's history month is an opportunity to acknowledge trailblazing leaders like Nora Ruby Chow,
my colleague standing with me today, and the many women who serve in our district offices and
legislative staff.
Your voices have strengthened our communities and helped to make our public institution more
reflective of the people we serve.
I'm grateful to work with all of you and to join you in presenting this proclamation
today.
Why do we celebrate women's history month?
We celebrate women's history month because the women who came before us still have something
to teach us.
My mom was a middle school history and social studies teacher, and through her, I learned
about Ada Lois City Hall Fisher.
She was the first black person to attend the University of Oklahoma College of Law after
fighting for three and a half years all the way to the Supreme Court.
I knew Hannah Atkins, the first black woman elected to the Oklahoma State Legislature.
And my first job in government was in Oklahoma City, where patients, ladding, the first woman
elected mayor there, mentored me directly.
Those women planted something in me.
After decades in public service, Oklahoma City took Willah here in King County, I now stand
as both the first woman to represent District 2 and the first black woman on this majority
female council.
I am keenly aware of that every time I take my seat at the Dias.
I carry that with me in community, it is not a burden, it is an honor.
I think about the young girls and women who may see themselves in me, in us, at this moment.
I hope that my story does for them what those women's stories did for me, and I want them
to know that being first only means something if it leads to second and third and many more.
Democracy is not perfect, its promise is not guaranteed.
We have to fight for justice and defend our most vulnerable, no less today than ever before.
So I invite us all to reflect and consider why, behind what we do here on behalf of the people
of King County.
I would like to also plug a panel discussion that we are going to have next week next Tuesday
with a panel of fabulous women.
It will be held March 24th at the Chinook Building at 11 o'clock. So please join us there.
We're going to take every very good. All right. So we'll go to the proclamation now.
Whereas Washington became the fifth state to enact women's suffrage in 1910, helping inspire the campaign
that culminated in the passage of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in 1920,
when white women won the right to vote nationally. And
Whereas black, indigenous and women of color continued to fight for equal suffrage,
finally earning the right to vote with a passage of the voting rights act in 1965 and
whereas since 1914, March 8th has been recognized as international women's day.
And since 1987, March has been designated national women's history month in the United States.
And so sorry, it's like a behind-the-end. Whereas black indigenous and women of color
have historically encountered and continued to face barriers to equity and inclusivity.
And we must strive to extend equal rights to all those who identify as women. And
where else? Where else? Where else? From the inception of the King County Council with council
member Bernice Stern elected as the first woman council member in 1969.
Council member Ruby Chow as the first Chinese American and woman of color in 1973.
Council member Theresa Musketa as the first Latina in 2024.
Council member Ronda Lewis as the first black woman appointed in 2025. And council
members Stephanie Fain as the first Korean American in 2025.
19 women have represented the people of King County on this council.
And we're as women are a majority of King County's population and a significant portion
of the labor force making countless contributions to our community and economy.
And for the first time ever, we will say it once again, a majority on this council.
And we're as women continue to fight for their bodily autonomy and access to safe and
affordable healthcare. And whereas all those who identify as women of every race,
ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, abilities, socioeconomic background
and immigrant and refugee status continue to make historic contributions to the growth
and strength of King County, Washington State, our nation and the world.
Now, therefore, we, the Metropolitan King County Council,
proclaim the month of March 2026 as women's history month in King County to recognize and
celebrate the contributions women have made to our nation's and county's history.
And we'll make to its future and it is signed this date by all members of the King County Council.
And now I'd like to invite our special guest, Nora Adam, to accept the
Proclamation and join us in saying a few words.
Wow.
So thank you so much for this great honor.
I feel so empowered by this beautiful five council members who are right behind me.
Thank you. Thank you and thank you and thank you. Thank you all for bringing so much beauty
to our county. And it's a great honor to be here as an accept this honor
on behalf of all the women in this room and outside of this room.
So thank you a little bit about me. I'm a Somali immigrant who grew up in the United States.
And I lived in King County East King County for 29 years. So we call King County our home.
I am a beautiful children. We're all born and raised in King County.
So I feel so lucky and so privileged to be part of incredible community that grows in diversity.
So thank you for increasing diversity for increasing the beauty that women bring to our community.
It's women who are always waking up in the morning and balancing their friendly responsibilities
along with career, along caring for their loved ones, aging parents, younger ones and so on and so forth.
I feel so privileged to really be among so many incredible leaders in our community.
Women leaders who have contributed to where I stand today.
So I thank special thanks really to council member Claudia Barducci who was the person who got me involved in the city of Bellevue
when she was serving as a mayor. So thank you so much for welcoming us
and residents of Bellevue to the city of Bellevue and from there on the rest is history.
So thank you. Why is it important for women to lead an organization from women's perspective?
Why is immigrant women's community centered is important?
Because we believe when you empower one woman, you empower an entire community.
And I will speak about that example shortly, but I want to also thank my children who are the greatest inspiration of my life,
the ones who were born into service and who continue to serve alongside their mom, not just support me,
but really do the action of service. Thank you.
Thank you. We do this work from a woman's lens because, like I said, when you empower one woman,
and I have an example right here today, Sally Ibrahim, who joined IWCC from the beginning.
And she is a single mom with two lovely boys. She's been part of the community.
We have been with her alongside her as she pursued her degree in bachelor's of science and celebrated with her.
And last year she did her internship with us and volunteered to be a case manager for over 60 families.
That's one woman's work. And that's the importance of really infesting on women and young women because, like, you know,
you do one and they affect 60 families and when you do 10, you multiply that, right?
So I am thankful for this award on behalf of all of our incredible women. I am grateful for this amazing constant members.
Well, right behind me, thank you for all you do every day and for listening in and for supporting the communities that need our support.
King County has been very inclusive and I could say that I feel comfortable tapping on to Claudia any time I need to speak about something or I feel like, oh, this is the missing gap.
Often times when immigrants come to our region, they walk in with language barriers, cultural barriers, not knowing how to navigate the system.
And so we, we co-created a space that creates a sense of belonging where people feel supported, where they can feel that they can, to be part of the community,
whether they speak the language, they're in the process of learning English, or whether they have an accent or not, right?
We will walk alongside them to make sure that each and every family thrives.
And we don't stop that until we see the success just like Sally, right?
Yeah, so thank you for this opportunity. I am grateful to be here with all of you and I accept this honor on behalf of all of the amazing women here and outside of this room.
So we would like to have a picture with the five women and our fabulous guest.
And then if our colleagues don't mind joining us for a picture altogether as well, that would be great.
Thank you.
We're looking right here.
One, two, three.
Okay.
All right.
One, two, three.
Next.
Let's get you to a good day.
Thank you.
Okay.
So, what I'm seeing is green.
Okay.
And that would be good.
One, two, three.
And then over there.
I want to count it.
Okay.
I just want to count it.
Thank you.
You're welcome.
Okay.
Thank you.
Okay.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
At this point, we will turn to the reading of items into the record and the hearing of public
comments.
Claire Kay, will you please read the items into the record?
Thank you, item 6 or the two special items, Proclamation of March 22, 28, 26 is translated
appreciation we can King County and Proclamation of March 26 as women's history month in
King County.
Item 9 is proposed motion number 2025-0228 confirming the executive's appointment of Crystal
Goodwin who resides in Council District 7 to the King County Board for Developmental Disabilities.
Item 10 is proposed motion number 255-0253 confirming the executive's appointment of day
to Great, who resides in Council District 9 to the King County Behavioral Health Advisory Board.
Item 11 is proposed motion number 25-0255 confirming the executive's appointment
of Samira Amira Fays, who resides in Council District 9 to the King County Mental
Elness and Drug Dependency Advisory Committee as a provider of culturally specific mental health
services in King County.
Item 12 is proposed motion number 25-0303-7 confirming the executive's appointment of Carell
Stripling, who resides in Council District 7 to the King County Veterans Advisory Board.
And item 13 is proposed.
Substitute motion number 26-0301-7, motion stay in the Council's support for continued in the
agenda related research for alternative treatment modalities, structured medical models, and full
decriminalization of in the agenda related activities and requesting that the investigation
arrest and prosecution of any adult engaging in certain in the agenda related activities
being among King County's lowest criminal enforcement priorities.
Thank you.
The Council will now take public comment on those ordinances, motions, and proclamations on today's
agenda for action.
Listening to the public and taking into consideration the public's thoughts is an important part
of our process and one that enhances our deliberations.
In order to allow everyone equal time to provide comment, I'd like to set the following ground
rules.
Some of it comments to two minutes remain seated until time for your public comment and
do not make audible noise during the meeting.
This is 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 of or opposition to
any ballot proposition.
In addition, per Council rule 10 disruptive behavior can or may lead to the comment or being asked
to leave the meeting.
The disruptive be clearly among other considerations, standing rather than remaining
seated except when entering or leaving the chambers or when providing comment at the podium
after being called on to speak.
Speaking from the audience without being recognized to provide comment, making audible noises in the
audience behind speaking, holding signs that obstruct the free passage of view of others attending
the meeting, the useable horns or other noise makers, and signs are not permitted at the podium.
For online public comment, press star 9 on the phone or click the raise hand icon on the Zoom
toolbar located at the bottom of the screen to notify the clerk.
The clerk will call the names or the last three digits of the phone numbers in order and will
then unmute each line at the end of the comment, the clerk will lower hands.
With that, clerk boss, would you please begin calling the names here in person followed by those
hands raised online for public comment?
Thank you, Chair Perry.
First name in chambers, does Alex Zimmerman?
Thank you very much, my name Alex Zimmerman, I am President of St. Dapah America for
many years, and I want to speak today about agenda number six as a woman day.
All civilized people in this planet, you know what is mean.
Ars is Celebration of Woman Day.
Woman is a person, what is we love?
Woman is a mother, what is we post to be care for and of us, life, and they left to.
But something what is wrong, happy him, hear, for for ear, what is, I come to the chamber, almost for ear.
And this little bit Statistі, Quate, Stotally, Brok, Ivna, Latism, and S.Y.
Talfori, Proz�yna, which woman before for ear,
half depression and mental sick, with a official Statistі.
S.O.S. Tantron, happy, and with woman, but what is for me,
looked very terrible.
Invenie, woman, what is S.Y.T, in wedding?
Is this chamber, is very primitive?
A-graysivin Stuppet, and then to understand different,
bit wind, democracy, and fascism?
Because woman, mental, it-illvenamental, it is.
S.O.S.No, S.O.P.R. S.O.S.N.S.S.J.
S.O.S.S.S.
Існоця прайзмі со 15-й рагов, як Кат,
інполменен Клудензі,
а сфрія Хабмен Бенен Фрідома в спіч,
я смикмі Тотелі Сик.
Іп.
Нод because I'm support Trump,
нод because idiot is always idiot,
when you boring like a idiot, you will die like a idiot,
and nothing could be changed.
Віват Рамп, віваню Америка Нриві Лучшель,
віва О'll Менхолав, Бомен,
і Мазер, Стен Дап, Америка.
Сень Кюбері Маші.
–Thank you, Mr. Zimmerman.
–Next on the list is Jordan Crawley.
–Good afternoon, Councilor Numbers.
My name is Jordan Crawley,
а his and a lifelong resident.
–Who on moment, Mr. Crowley?
–Mr. Zimmerman.
–That's your second warning,
the sign needs to go down.
–Thank you very much.
Thank you very much.
Go right ahead.
Mr. Zimmerman, would you like to leave
the Chamursat this point?
–Good afternoon.
–Good afternoon, Council mäבה.
–Good afternoon, please go right ahead.
–My name is Jordan Crawley,
Аммі Üфенського стра який на господар у майю, Петachsen, Інтис.
Аммі Üфенського, і відеція Ямсія,
Івійся відсобного ісобного роз виртємка Смінка.
Інтис, який зим Sudапрів зі чим этому будуть позкраф contrати,
який Allian has a proud lifelong resident у centeredі Ікавній,
аммі ісобного ісобного.
Іплені کو на т ventі ісобного,
амм efficiently просправження,
але убийник Інтис.
Іплені спрачували, амм fabрівся.
Iкий отсперт.
Іпленіactor.
У нас, we've got to syка, our families, our communities,
and region.
Two often-�ватимін-options.
He'll also those struggling
... with mental health conditions are limited, inaccessible,
or ineffective.
Ототimes when emerging research backed by the FDA
shows real promise for natural therapies.
It's important that we take a thoughtful,
measured, and nonetheless supportive approach
to these treatments.
This proposal supports continued research
від 왜냐하면е наorous з поперноться, випуній інгост mik ритемні як іміцію, вYEV, та ActuallyRes,
та Інгумі, і кініцію, вініцію зру. У Ритемній взагалі із філкию, зі інгості, зі під�музкою,
Україн Риструційців на하겠습니다сті, майонарсі, виріший віцьли, гонахи вій�и імяхи вважався мійhere, або вій�и на вій�и імію іденти пили бачить як імітнім, іс інтересний раз.
Імікому кіскість, малі ми знаємо, що завтрезав ухудений.
Ми говорили, що при велюху іншому sozialу у імітнімію, щоб перередини у голові ісіюLE прожнення.
Це імітнімію твер," коли євгу вкерпуватися.
Много, що ми немає разної робити для інших інстіній прожного підкритній імію.
�.
МаліFeїк, деньпівня, з Three-х шерпвист.
Next in chambers.
Знім.
Це цоді зillтужський.
Iv не даваємо на міснийaysок.
Маліх з цорві.
«Hey hello county council,
my name is Cody Zilefsky,
he speaking on behalf of the Psychedelic Medicine Alliance
of Washington,
and millions of people,
including veterans,
first responders, and parents,
who have found mental health relief
із верих 게ців, декуці, і декуці, з цим вважне продати в MAY.
Вона рок-те зі тримаємо Motкоро-斯 undermію Hind deadу,
в chairman hang білье відеятий формont Kongний listen
зти через й купу кріп菷 іicitій blocked.
Ольгаці, fen шнихш spy на меж Hasbeix в ол Gesц copied.
Goddard 3adsпля на доської ехаю thanac
Rate slow off lingongar.
wish long glì.
Hasbeco.
��, вправ, як іс wakes focusesкуонити цим вважн lifetime.
Eine ліб始 бюнгенка, що данyzор на пічній диверіт.
FOR 측ючий африд lose-ді, такий, щоб який б зміж lordосomatic, щоб який б бригин, щоб дотрактивно дотрактивно дотрактивно який бік і перен进 off.
Тодактивно запівно віддати, і в інhem місяці, який дотрактивно має у емі Überчим droдом.
шоing the benefits of these medicines.
That is why I'm here today, asking you to take
this small step, away from treating psychedelic
amphigenсь, as a criminal justice matter.
King County would not be alone, but would join dozens of
other jurisdictions, in allowing freedom of individual
choice in bettering mental health.
Thank you for your consideration of this matter,
and it has my strongest words in support of this
passage.
Thank you.
Moving now, well, first of all, before we move to online,
is there anyone else in chambers that wanted
an opportunity to speak with, not sight-up?
Would you like to go?
I just like to go.
OK, great.
Step on up, and see your name, and love to hear what you
have to say.
Hello, my name is Greg Woodfield,
President of A.T.U.587, representing 4800
transit workers in King County, and the peninsula.
Thank you, Chair, Perry, and the rest of the council
members.
I'm here to speak in favor, additionally,
of the motion on, sorry, in the O'jens.
Sorry, I've got to talk tight on the words.
So our membership suffers from a lot of post-traumatic
stress, from what they go through every day.
And a lot of our members are safety sensitive,
so they can't use any type of drugs, but a lot of our
retirees will need it after what they go through,
and some of our members do not.
And let's think about what the public
that they're dealing with.
So if this is, would provide relief
to some of the public, that could use transit,
and not become an issue.
It'd be very important to our members.
If this can be one additional tool
to destigmatize the people seeking
for alternative treatments, for PTSD,
depression, traumatic brain injury, anxiety,
substance use disorder, and more than it's worth passing.
If it can add another jurisdiction
to the growing list, that asks our state and federal
government, for additional analysis,
and consideration of ways to free up access
to antigens.
If it has a positive health, and cultural benefit,
if it can offer relief, and support, in any way,
to a community desperately seeking care.
It's worth passing it.
We are local, strongly, he encourages you
to pass this motion.
Thank you.
Thank you very much, Greg.
Moving now to online?
First, name online, is Sarah Jet-Racer.
Hi.
Good afternoon, Members of the Council.
Thank you for taking time to consider my testimony.
My name is Sarah Jet-Racer,
and I'm here today to speak in support
of the Resolution on Personal and Community
Use of Enthugions.
Many people in King County are living with trauma,
chronic and debilitating illnesses,
and treatment-resisting conditions,
similar to what I would with.
My illness has took me out of the field,
as an EMT, and an emergency management
professional, and then just a handful of years
to go, I found myself in a wheelchair,
with my best prognosis being in a walker
and significantly short and lifespan.
I am able, if you could see my camera,
to stand for you today, unassisted,
because I have been illegally healing
with the support of psychedelics in cannabis
after traditional medical approach has failed me.
These medicines, excuse me,
these medicines help me reclaim my mental health,
reconnect with my body,
and build my life in ways that no prescription ever did.
The healing did not happen in a critical,
or medicalized setting,
it happened through intentional,
personal, and community-supported use.
First responders and medical professionals
deserve these medicines
that are not only physically healing,
but mentally healing and fortifying.
In order to keep us in the field
and to assist with the emotional and psychological
and physical burnout, it comes with the job,
to help us work through the onslaught of traumas
that we witnessed daily in Holtz-Face 4.
These medicines allow me to process that trauma,
illness is in deaths in ways
that I can work with him through,
instead of varying and gritting through
it, until it explodes out in episodes of PTSD.
Today, I am building my life again.
Now, as a cannabis in psychedelic health
and wellness coach, working with chronically
and terminally ill-individuals,
I'm the co-founder and president
of the Keepen Inslus Psychedelic Society,
a board member of Rehts, Washington,
and maintain involvement in many other psychedelic
organizations across our state.
I believe everyone has the right
to pursue better quality of life
in a way that is accessible and supported.
Healing is not one-size-fits-all,
and the agents are not just clinical tools,
they are tools for well-being, growth,
and community healing.
No one should face criminal penalties
for healing and the agents,
and I respectfully ask the Council
to protect personal autonomy,
community practices,
and we'll access five-outing, yes,
on this resolution to protect our use.
Thank you, and I'm happy to answer questions you may have.
Thank you.
Next on the list, is Daniel Gilman.
Good afternoon, King, can't wait to hear me.
Yes, we can. Go ahead ahead.
All right.
My name is Dan Gilman.
I'm the current president of Veterans for Peace.
He had a chapter 92.
I live in Seattle, Washington.
As our name suggests,
we, as veterans, for peace, work for peace.
And one of our mission statements
among many is that, as veterans,
we seek justice for veterans and victims of war.
And so we support this motion
on the floor today, that
supports projects and treatments
to provide comprehensive,
high-quality, cutting-edge, health care,
to American veterans,
like treatments for PTSD, and TBI, and other elements.
So he's support motion 2026-0017,
that supports
intheogen-related research.
And the continued decriminalisation
of the personal use of intheogen,
making county law enforcement toward
intheogen and related activities
to be a low priority for the county.
We hold heartily support this bill
for treatment for veterans,
and non-veterans alike who are suffering
from diagnosis that, intheogen,
will make for a better outcome.
Veterans for peace,
herges your support.
Thank you.
Next on the list is Matt Mush.
Good afternoon, he's team,
members of the council.
My name is Matt Metzker.
I'm a retired Marine Corps combat veteran
and a co-founder of the keep-in,
and it's a psychedelic society.
I serve our country in the Iraq War in 2003
and survive an attempt in murder by fellow Marines
that same year.
2005 to 2020, I was heavily medicated
to function as a normal human being.
These pharmaceutical drugs
nummy to the world, allowing me to simply survive
and carry my trauma without truly living my life.
I could not emotionally connect
my wife and sons,
and many nights I prayed I wouldn't wake up
or wish for an accident in my pain.
In 2020, just before retiring,
I met a sailor with trauma very similar to mine
who found relief through psilocybin Mushrooms.
After retirement, I began microdosing these Mushrooms
and help with the help of my V.A. doctor.
We end off my mental health drugs within four months.
Now I take a single capsule, every third day
of a medicine, I grow myself.
This medicine change my life profoundly,
allowing me to connect with my family
and live fully, again.
It laid a solid foundation for other healing
moved out of these such as therapy, which I still pursue.
The transformative power of this natural medicine
compels me to speak out
and assist others on their path to wellness.
I now help others as a psychedelic wellness,
consultant and coach,
focusing on harm reduction,
and safe and form of responsible use.
I also help others learn to cultivate
and make their own medicine.
We're not seeking to get high.
We just want to feel okay in our bodies
and safe around those we love.
All humans deserve to live, not merely survive.
To be clear, I'm not a medical professional
or a clinician, but as a peer,
I've assisted hundreds of clients in their wellness journey
with zero hysteria at or-hospital visits.
Decriminalizing plant medicine will allow many more
to find the relief and healing that I did.
Let's give everyone the chance to live fully,
connect, deeply, with those they love.
Thank you.
Next on the list is Joe Kanzler.
Hi, King Kelly.
Council, two councilor, here, a few thoughts.
As we begin today.
I want to start with, I want to thank all
all our credit operators, for all the work he do.
If you're very important, we honor and support
our credit operators, make sure to have
a safe environment in the proper medical care.
What are the methods on the job
or medical treatment after your service?
We're going to the same for our veterans.
I want to add my voice in support.
Today.
Now, I don't need nor use psychedelic drugs, but I think if a doctor prescribes it, that's
way it should be, some of women's medical care. There should be no politician between
a human or an American citizen and their doctor. Period. But that's my opinion. I do
want to add, also, when we just came up, I want to thank all the great female politicians who have
done so to greet you all, but in your comments, safer and better. For Redmond's
Vanessa Critser to, to a quality of bad ass U.T., who's about to get a sexy white
rail line across with Washington, and the only wish I could attend the big party to our
chair, Sarah Perry, which is trying to maintain order with that clown, misogynistic, ex-foot of
Alex Zimmerman, who's remarks I condemn today, moving along. I just want to thank all of you for
your pro-exervice, and I condemn Alex Zimmerman's remarks in total today. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Conflict. Next on the list is Preston Anderson.
Well, Council, my name is Preston Anderson. I live in King County, Council, District 8 in West
Seattle. I'll keep my comments brief. My background in a Iraq war veteran, deployed twice. I
currently work for the V health care system. And just personally, I'll disclose that this
is something that not many people know, but I have suffered over 20 years from the trauma. The
residual trauma from my deployments, and I am speaking on behalf of support for the legislation
of motion, introducing the council for FNL gym related research. I would just add that
ketamine was kind of on the periphery. During the time, it was being researched in the late 1990s
in early 2000s, was not mainstream by the federal government, but the research that was
taken on the periphery helped get ketamine introduced into more clinic spaces to include the
V health care system to treat treatment-resistant depression and trauma. So my hope is that the
King County Council will also support this legislation to ensure that there is space for those
the research to occur to ensure that this may be eventually becomes mainstream and helps those that
have suffering from trauma like myself. Thank you, and that's all.
Thank you very much. Is there anyone in person or online that has not had a chance to speak
who wishes to provide common at this time? Anyone? Okay, thanks very much with that. Comments
are closed. I want to thank everybody who came today. Anyone who is considering coming to testify
in the future, it's a very important part of our public process, and we very much appreciate your
time and effort, and what you have to say. Turning now to the moving on to the actions on today's
agenda, as a reminder, item 7 has been deferred to the March 24th, 2026 Council meeting. So we'll
move to the next item on the agenda, which is the hearing examiner consent agenda, and we'll ask
for Kate to read it into the record.
Thank you, Chair Perry. Item 8 is proposed substitute ordinance number 2025-0368, authorizing the
application of a portion of a portion of 50 second avenue south in the Anna Avenue, file number
V2735 petitioner with spring woods, the state's LLC. Thank you very much. Council number
Fain, would you please move consent agenda item 8? So moved. Thank you consent agenda item 8 is
before us. Claire, K, would you please call the roll? Thank you. Council member Beldigy. Council member
Council member Denbass. Council member Denbass. Council member Denbass. Council member Denbass. Council member
Denbass. Council member Louis. Council member Muskita. Council member Vonrike Bauer. Chair Perry.
Aye. The vote is nine aye. Zero Nose. Thank you. By our vote, we've adopted proposed ordinance
number 2025-0368, and turning to our last action item today, which is consent agenda items 9 through 12.
Vice Chair, would you please move consent agenda items 9 through 12?
Thank you. consent agenda item 9 through 12. Thank you. consent agenda items 9 through 12. Thank you.
consent agenda items 9 through 12 are before us. Claire, K, would you again please call the roll? Thank you.
Council member Beldigy. Council member Buron. Council member Denbass. Council member Denbass.
Council member Denbass. Council member Fain. Council member Louis. Council member Muskita. Council member Vonrike Bauer.
Chair Perry. Aye. The vote is nine aye. Zero Nose. Thank you.
By our vote, we've adopted proposed motion number 2025-0228-0253-0255-0353-7.
Before we adjourn, my colleagues have any other business for the good of the order.
Okay, seeing no further business, this meeting is adjourned.