Seattle City Council

Executive Summary

The Seattle City Council convened on St. Patrick's Day for a focused 45-minute meeting that addressed federal immigration enforcement concerns through two significant policy measures. Council President Pro Tem Maritza Rivera presided over the session in the absence of Council President Joy Hollingsworth, with eight members present including two late arrivals. The meeting's centerpiece was the unanimous passage of Council Bill 121164, which prohibits federal immigration enforcement staging on all city-owned and controlled property. Sponsored by Public Safety Committee Chair Robert Kettle, the ordinance adds a new chapter to the Seattle Municipal Code and represents part of a broader "whole of city government approach" to asserting local governmental rights in response to federal immigration policies. Equally significant was the adoption of Resolution 32194, sponsored by Councilmember Dionne Foster, which reaffirms the city's data privacy protections and requests a comprehensive review of data collection practices to limit exposure to federal authorities. The resolution was amended by Councilmember Rob Saka to acknowledge prior city privacy work from 2015. The council also approved a routine Seattle Public Utilities property sale in SeaTac to King County Water District 125, though this sparked discussion about the need for government-to-government consultation with federally recognized tribes on land disposition. The consent calendar, including various arts commission appointments and weekly bill payments, was adopted without objection.

Key Decisions & Actions

**Council Bill 121164** - Immigration Enforcement Staging Prohibition - **Vote:** Passed 8-0 (unanimous) - **Staff Recommendation:** Pass as amended - **Council Action:** Passed as recommended - **Practical Impact:** Prohibits federal immigration enforcement from using city property for staging operations; creates enforcement mechanism through city attorney's office **Resolution 32194** - Data Privacy Protections - **Vote:** Adopted 8-0 (unanimous) with amendment - **Amendment A by Councilmember Saka:** Adopted 8-0, acknowledges 2015 Privacy Principles (Resolution 31570) - **Staff Recommendation:** Adopt - **Council Action:** Adopted with amendment - **Practical Impact:** Requests executive review of data practices; mandates privacy standards in future contracts **Council Bill 121166** - SPU Property Sale - **Vote:** Passed 8-0 (unanimous) - **Staff Recommendation:** Pass - **Council Action:** Passed as recommended - **Details:** Sells King County Parcel Number 1623049405 at South 138th Street in SeaTac to King County Water District 125 - **Practical Impact:** Surplus utility property continues utility use under different jurisdiction **Consent Calendar Items:** - Minutes from March 10, 2026 - Adopted - CB 121178 (Weekly bill payment) - Passed - Nine appointments to Seattle Arts Commission - All confirmed - One appointment to Burke-Gilman Place PDA - Confirmed - One appointment to Seattle Film Commission - Confirmed

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Notable Quotes

**Councilmember Robert Kettle, on constitutional authority:** "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people. So, it is really incumbent on us, as a local government, to stand up for those rights." **Councilmember Robert Kettle, on professional law enforcement:** "This type of engagement with federal law enforcement also shows that we are, you know, a city that is doing it right. We are engaging, and we are professionals, and we are standing up." **Councilmember Dionne Foster, on proactive data protection:** "We want to be proactive in our responsibility as local government to ensure that we are in full compliance with Keep Washington Working and our data privacy standards, not just for city government, but for the contractors that we work with." **Councilmember Debora Juarez, on tribal sovereignty:** "Land back is more important than a land acknowledgment. Unless you're going to give us back the land, I really don't care to hear that we are sitting on stolen land, it does no one no good." **Howard Gale, on police accountability:** "The City of Seattle has erased him from life and then erased him from the public memory." **Council President Pro Tem Maritza Rivera, on collective commitment:** "We are committed to working together to make sure that we are protecting all residents of our city, not just some residents."