Seattle City Council

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.