Summary

City Council meeting summary

SeattleJun 9, 20263 min read

At a glance

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Council confirmed a new Public Health director, adopted a temporary moratorium and study process for data centers, approved a contract rezone extension for a Rainier Avenue property, and directed capital planning for Seattle Center with a view toward a future bond measure. Routine consent items and a resolution retiring inactive files were also adopted.

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City Council

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TransportationBudget & TaxHealthcareHousingUtilities

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What this means

The Council confirmed Sandra J. Valenciano as Director of Public Health, so a new leader will head local public-health work. The Council placed a temporary pause on permitting new or expanded data centers and asked for studies of their impacts (power, water, land use and public health) while policy options are developed. The Council approved extending a rezone and related development agreement for a project at 5201 Rainier Avenue South, and asked the Mayor and departments to start capital planning for Seattle Center, including exploring a bond measure to fund future renovations.

Key decisions

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Confirmed Sandra J. Valenciano as Director of Public Health - Seattle and King County (Appointment 03497) — confirmed by vote 9-0.
Adopted Resolution 32204 (as amended) to study data center impacts and request Executive engagement — adopted 9-0.
Passed CB 121214 (as amended) establishing a moratorium on filing, accepting, processing, or approving applications for establishment/expansion/change of use to data centers and approving a related work plan — passed 9-0.
Granted Clerk File 314549 to extend the contract rezone for property at 5201 Rainier Avenue South — granted 9-0.
Passed CB 121220 (as amended) approving the extension of the contract rezone and accepting an executed Property Use and Development Agreement for 5201 Rainier Avenue South — passed 9-0.
Adopted Resolution 32205 (as amended) directing capital planning for Seattle Center and endorsing exploration of funding options including a possible bond measure by end of 2027 — adopted 9-0.
Adopted Resolution 32208 retiring introduced/referred Council items with no further action — adopted 9-0.
Passed CB 121223 on the Consent Calendar to appropriate funds to pay specified claims — passed on consent 9-0.
Adopted the Introduction and Referral Calendar and the Consent Calendar by unanimous consent; amended the agenda to move Appointment 03497 earlier in the agenda.
Councilmembers signed a letter to King County regarding a possible Transportation Benefit District for roads; Councilmember Strauss was excused from the July 7, 2026 meeting by unanimous consent.

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City Council

Jun 9, 2026, 9:00 PMCouncil Chamber, City Hall 600 4th Avenue Seattle, WA 98104completed

Agenda

CALL TO ORDER
ROLL CALL
PRESENTATIONS
PUBLIC COMMENT
ADOPTION OF INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL CALENDAR:
June 9, 2026
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
APPROVAL OF CONSENT CALENDAR
Journal:
June 2, 2026
Bills:
An ordinance appropriating money to pay certain claims for the week of May 25, 2026, through May 29, 2026, and ordering the payment thereof; and ratifying and confirming certain prior acts.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
CITY COUNCIL:
A resolution retiring introduced and referred Council Bills, Resolutions, Clerk Files, and Appointments that have received no further action.
PARKS AND CITY LIGHT COMMITTEE:
A resolution relating to data centers; committing to studying the potential for data centers to impact electrical grid capacity and reliability, water usage, utility rates, land use and development, jobs and the economy, and public health; and requesting engagement and cooperation from the Executive in the development of data center policies and potential legislation; and anticipates related legislative action.
LAND USE AND SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE:
An ordinance relating to land use and zoning; introducing a new definition for data centers; adopting a moratorium on the filing, acceptance, processing, or approval of applications for the establishment or expansion of, or change of use to, data centers; amending Section 23.84A.008 of the Seattle Municipal Code; approving a work plan; declaring an emergency; and establishing an immediate effective date; all by a 3/4 vote of the City Council.
Application of Eagle Rock Ventures and 5201 Rainier, LLC, for an extension of the contract rezone of the property at 5201 Rainier Avenue South. Original contract rezone application approved through CF 314311 and Ordinance 125632 (Project No. 3018378-LU; Type IV).
Agenda Item
An ordinance relating to land use and zoning; approving the extension of a contract rezone approved by Ordinance 125632 and accepting an amended Property Use and Development Agreement for a property located at 5201 Rainier Avenue South (Application by Eagle Rock Ventures and 5201 Rainier, LLC, C.F. 314549, SDCI Project 3018378-LU).
TRANSPORTATION, WATERFRONT, AND SEATTLE CENTER COMMITTEE:
A resolution affirming the importance of Seattle Center as a central civic, cultural, and economic asset for The City of Seattle; acknowledging the urgent imperative to restore its aging infrastructure and grounds, renovate its buildings, and revitalize the Seattle Center Campus; requesting that the Mayor direct City departments in a capital planning effort for Seattle Center; anticipating a decision on a bond measure to fund its capital investment by the end of 2027; committing to exploring all viable funding options to support its modernization; declaring Council priorities and calling upon the Executive to direct departmental resources and budget allocations in support of its capital improvements.
HUMAN SERVICES, LABOR, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE:
Appointment of Sandra J. Valenciano as Director of Public Health - Seattle and King County.
ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR
ADOPTION OF OTHER RESOLUTIONS
OTHER BUSINESS
ADJOURNMENT
Agenda Item
_____________________________________________________ Jodee Schwinn, Deputy City Clerk Signed by me in Open Session, upon approval of the Council, on June 16, 2026. _____________________________________________________ Joy Hollingsworth, Council President of the City Council Attachment 1 - Action 1 of Resolution 32204 Attachment 2 - Action 1 of Resolution 32205

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