Seattle City Council Special Meeting 12/16/2025
December 16, 2025 — special, 4h 8m. Full transcript and vote records below — no spin, just what happened.
What was decided
Motion was made by Council President Nelson and duly seconded to pass Council Bill 121126.
How they voted
Hearing no objection, the introduction and referral calendar is adopted. (8-0 per official minutes) Verified · official minutes
Official minutes (PDF) · the city’s formal record of this vote
K. Carolyn Ramamurti David Haines The Public Hearing closed at 2:09 p.m. LIBRARIES, EDUCATION, AND NEIGHBORHOODS COMMITTEE: 2. Appt 03294 Reappointment of Dwane Chappelle as Director of the Department of Education and Early Learning, for a term to August 1, 2029. The Committee recommends that City Council confirm the Appointment (Appt). In Favor: 4 - Rivera, Rinck, Hollingsworth, Lin Opposed: None
How they voted
Hearing no objection, the agenda is adopted. (8-0 per official minutes) Verified · official minutes
Official minutes (PDF) · the city’s formal record of this vote
carried, to adopt the Consent Calendar with the exception of item 80,
How they voted — carried, to adopt the Consent Calendar with the exception of item 80,
Aton favor, none opposed Verified · official minutes
Yes: Rob Saka, Joy Hollingsworth, Bob Kettle, None
Agenda item consent · background & details
Unresolvable name(s) dropped: Link, Lynn, Reve, Strauff
Official minutes (PDF) · the city’s formal record of this vote
How they voted — Motion was made by Council President Nelson, duly seconded and carried, to adopt the Consent Calendar with the exception of item 80, Appointment 03382. Bills: 1. CB 121144 AN ORDINANCE appropriating money to pay certain claims for the week of December 1, 2025, through December 5, 2025, and ordering the payment thereof; and ratifying and confirming certain prior acts. The Council Bill (CB) was pass
None opposed Verified · official minutes
Agenda item consent · background & details
Official minutes (PDF) · the city’s formal record of this vote
How they voted — C DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE: Page 3 Meeting Minutes City Council 2. Appt 03107 December 16, 2025 Reappointment of Thomas J. Kelly as member, Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee, for a term to December 31, 2027. The Committee recommends that City Council confirm the Appointment (Appt). In Favor: 5 - Nelson, Kettle, Hollingsworth, Lin, Rivera Opposed: None The Appointment (Appt) was confirmed on the
Eight in favor, none opposed Verified · official minutes
Yes: Alexis Mercedes Rinck, Maritza Rivera, Rob Saka, Dan Strauss, Joy Hollingsworth, Bob Kettle, None
Agenda item consent · background & details
Unresolvable name(s) dropped: Lynn
Official minutes (PDF) · the city’s formal record of this vote
How they voted — 8 - Nelson, Hollingsworth, Kettle, Lin, Rinck, Rivera, Saka, Strauss Opposed: None 3. Appt 03108 Reappointment of Lisa Reager as member, Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee, for a term to December 31, 2027. The Committee recommends that City Council confirm the Appointment (Appt). In Favor: 5 - Nelson, Kettle, Hollingsworth, Lin, Rivera Opposed: None The Appointment (Appt) was confirmed on the
motion passes (8-0 per official minutes) Verified · official minutes
Agenda item consent · background & details
Result announced at 7798s
Official minutes (PDF) · the city’s formal record of this vote
How they voted — Adoption of Amendment C
the motion carries in Amendment C is adopted Unverified
Agenda item consent · background & details
Official minutes (PDF) · the city’s formal record of this vote
How they voted — trauss Page 43 Meeting Minutes City Council December 16, 2025 Opposed: None J. ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR 80. Appt 03382 Appointment of Gulgun Kayim as member, Cultural Space Agency Public Development Authority Governing Council, for a term to December 31, 2027. The Committee recommends that City Council confirm the Appointment (Appt). In Favor: 4 - Rinck, Lin, Saka, Strauss Opposed: None
The motion carries and the appointment is confirmed. Verified · official minutes
Agenda item consent · background & details
Official minutes (PDF) · the city’s formal record of this vote
Passing Council Bill 112, 139, relating to historic preservation and negotiated controls and incentives agreement for the Stewart House
How they voted
Ait in favor, none opposed Unverified
Yes: Alexis Mercedes Rinck, Maritza Rivera, Rob Saka, Dan Strauss, Joy Hollingsworth, Bob Kettle, None
Agenda item 3 · background & details
Unresolvable name(s) dropped: Lynn Unresolvable name(s) dropped: Ziveta
Official minutes (PDF) · the city’s formal record of this vote
Council Bill 121, 140, relaying historic preservation opposing controls upon the Lincoln Springs Park
How they voted
Eight in favor, none opposed Unverified
Agenda item 4 · background & details
Official minutes (PDF) · the city’s formal record of this vote
SOTO parking, business improvement area, changing the assessment rates and exemptions
How they voted
Eight in favor, none opposed Unverified
Agenda item 5 · background & details
Official minutes (PDF) · the city’s formal record of this vote
Council Bill 121, 141 relating to city employment, exempting positions from the civil service system, returning positions to the civil service system
How they voted
Aton in favor, none opposed Unverified
Agenda item 7 · background & details
Official minutes (PDF) · the city’s formal record of this vote
Rinck, Rivera, Saka, Strauss Opposed: None 8. CB 121142 AN ORDINANCE relating to City employment; and establishing the Deferred Compensation Analyst classification title series and corresponding rates of pay in the Seattle City Employees’ Retirement System. The Committee recommends that City Council pass the Council Bill (CB). In Favor: 5 - Nelson, Kettle, Hollingsworth, Lin, Rivera Opposed: None
How they voted
Aten favor, none opposed Conflict — see note
Agenda item 8 · background & details
CONFLICT: transcript and official minutes disagree — tally: transcript=9-0 official=yes:8 no:0
Official minutes (PDF) · the city’s formal record of this vote
Amendment A to Council Bill 120985
How they voted
The motion carries in Amendment A is adopted. Unverified
Yes: Maritza Rivera, Rob Saka, Dan Strauss, None
No: Alexis Mercedes Rinck, Bob Kettle
Agenda item Amendment A · background & details
Unresolvable name(s) dropped: Lynn
Official minutes (PDF) · the city’s formal record of this vote
Amendment B, version 2
How they voted
The motion carries in Amendment B to Version 2 is adopted. Unverified
Yes: Alexis Mercedes Rinck, Rob Saka, Joy Hollingsworth, Bob Kettle, None
Agenda item 2.1 · background & details
Motion by Joy Hollingsworth, seconded by Rob Saka
Unresolvable name(s) dropped: Avara, Len, Straves
Official minutes (PDF) · the city’s formal record of this vote
sing controls upon the Stewart House, a landmark designated by the Landmarks Preservation Board under Chapter 25.12 of the Seattle Municipal Code, and adding it to the Table of Historical Landmarks contained in Chapter 25.32 of the Seattle Municipal Code. The Committee recommends that City Council pass the Council Bill (CB). In Favor: 3 - Rivera, Rinck, Hollingsworth Opposed: None Abstain: 1 - Lin
How they voted
Ait in favor, none opposed (8-0 per official minutes) Verified · official minutes
Yes: Alexis Mercedes Rinck, Maritza Rivera, Rob Saka, Dan Strauss, Joy Hollingsworth, Bob Kettle, None
Unresolvable name(s) dropped: Lynn
Official minutes (PDF) · the city’s formal record of this vote
Amendment A to council bill 1-20-993
How they voted
The motion carries and Amendment A is adopted Unverified
Agenda item 10 · background & details
Motion by Joy Hollingsworth
Official minutes (PDF) · the city’s formal record of this vote
sing controls upon líq’tәd - Licton Springs Park, a landmark designated by the Landmarks Preservation Board under Chapter 25.12 of the Seattle Municipal Code, and adding it to the Table of Historical Landmarks contained in Chapter 25.32 of the Seattle Municipal Code. The Committee recommends that City Council pass the Council Bill (CB). In Favor: 4 - Rivera, Rinck, Hollingsworth, Lin Opposed: None
How they voted
The motion carries and Amendment A is adopted (8-0 per official minutes) Verified · official minutes
Official minutes (PDF) · the city’s formal record of this vote
ing Minutes City Council 5. CB 121073 December 16, 2025 AN ORDINANCE relating to the SODO Parking and Business Improvement Area; changing the assessment rate and exemptions; and amending Ordinance 125678, as previously amended by Ordinance 126191. The Committee recommends that City Council pass as amended the Council Bill (CB). In Favor: 5 - Nelson, Kettle, Hollingsworth, Lin, Rivera Opposed: None
How they voted
Aten favor, none opposed. The bill is amended passes and the chair will sign it. (8-0 per official minutes) Verified · official minutes
Official minutes (PDF) · the city’s formal record of this vote
Amendment A to the resolution relating to the one Seattle plan, comprehensive plan update
How they voted
The motion carries in amendment A is adopted Unverified
Agenda item 11 · background & details
Official minutes (PDF) · the city’s formal record of this vote
Adoption of the resolution as amended
How they voted
The resolution as amended is adopted and the chair will sign it Unverified
Official minutes (PDF) · the city’s formal record of this vote
passage of the bill
How they voted
Ait in favor, none opposed Unverified
Agenda item 1-21-137 · background & details
Official minutes (PDF) · the city’s formal record of this vote
Council Bill 112138 authorizing Seattle Public Utilities to acquire a parcel in Laurel Hearst neighborhood
How they voted
A.10 favor, none opposed Unverified
Official minutes (PDF) · the city’s formal record of this vote
Motion was made by Councilmember Strauss and duly seconded, to amend Council Bill 121130, by amending the title, and amending Sections 1 and 3, as shown on Attachment 1 to the Minutes. By unanimous consent, the City Council meeting was in recess from 2:41 p.m. until 2:45 p.m. At 2:50 p.m., the December 16, 2025, City Council meeting was called back to order. Present: 8 - Nelson, Hollingsworth, Ket
How they voted
Hearing no objection, the pro tem and the order of succession will be in effect January 1st, 2026 and expire when the council adopts a 20206 and 27 council president pro tem resolution (6-2 per official minutes) Verified · official minutes
Motion by Dan Strauss
Mover: Strauss (per official minutes).
Official minutes (PDF) · the city’s formal record of this vote
Transcript
The full transcript, word-for-word as spoken. Speakers appear in order until speaker labeling is complete.
How vote data stays honest
In these records, votes are extracted from the clerk’s roll call in the public recording. Before final publication, they are cross-checked against the city’s official minutes. Corrections are published openly.
This meeting was transcribed with automated speech-to-text. Names and figures should be checked against the official minutes before quoting.