[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6228728,"mediaKeyId","3467774-ce42d3da8d4992453a8f0629c85adb3b","parentId",3467774,"title","Council committee advances ethics code revision after hours of public comment and several amendments","audioSeconds",3846,"startMs",6893000,"endMs",10739000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3467774-ce42d3da8d4992453a8f0629c85adb3b&start=6893&end=10739","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3467774-ce42d3da8d4992453a8f0629c85adb3b/thumbnail_6893000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6228728/Seattle/King-County/Washington/Council-committee-advances-ethics-code-revision-after-hours-of-public-comment-and-several-amendments","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6228728-84c780c481a7b908c67424c741b1c0f7/orig.mp4?Expires=1775626412&Signature=fBdFK8pyeXrVE20C7SesCxsf5xHdI77ozw9qgiGzhMiJOpNM8Ekn~zXZtGjM9uDTHSKsx5yLQwjG3J70UzUrdYkhD~wZZRVQv-mn15cASxxnIKsXhZlrlONpvmF-bKhm56tqYstma1VerRbNzVzK2c-S2V5HMTaX2iybpAm9FF20cH0dARG0cienOmmd1xnGX3yjj4kg2kCnR72g0qV09iUT4NpoqmL1t3Ll49AnVALCFVwfxoC9339yllKveT3qly7P1H8igXZ77PyxmRrm~40PvB9MVYfafmfCbcvBebwL468aqDwSSAVzNLKhoOfntIqJY2W81jBisYiE7bhSNw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Seattle City, WA","date","2025-05-23T18:31:57.533Z","article","The Governance, Accountability and Economic Development Committee spent its May 22 meeting on Council Bill 120978, legislation amending Seattle's municipal code of ethics. The bill would move the city's elected‑official disclosure and recusal framework toward a system that emphasizes public disclosure of financial interests and gives the Ethics and Elections Commission guidance on when recusal is required. The committee considered multiple amendments and, after debate and public comment, voted to forward the bill as amended to full City Council with a committee recommendation.

Sponsor Councilmember Cathy Moore said the existing code is an evolving instrument and that the measure responds to practical problems the city faces under the current rules. \"Nothing is cast in stone,\" Moore said, describing the proposed changes as part of an iterative effort to keep rules workable. Wayne Barnett, executive director of the Seattle Ethics and Elections Commission, told the committee the office recommended changes to reduce instances where the ethics code is used to frustrate a democratic majority: \"the ethics code is being employed sometimes to attempt to frustrate a council majority,\" he said, arguing for clearer standards.

The amendments the committee adopted were aimed at increasing transparency and giving the Ethics and Elections Commission (SEEC) and its executive director concrete duties. Amendment 1 (sponsored by the bill author) restored a requirement that non‑legislative disclosures also be sent to the City Clerk and required that legislative disclosures be repeated on the full council floor after committee discussion so the public record is clear. Amendment 2 (Hollingsworth, Version C) introduced a recusal standard that requires elected officials to recuse when a legislative matter will produce a \"unique and direct gain or loss\" specific to that official rather than to members of the same business, profession, occupation or group — language modeled in part on statutes and rules in other jurisdictions. Another adopted amendment required the executive director to provide informal written opinions within five business days when requested, and an additional amendment asked SEEC to provide an annual report to the council on whether additional ethics policy changes are advisable.

The committee record showed extensive public comment. More than an hour of public testimony included hundreds of in‑person and remote speakers. Many speakers urged the committee to retain the city's existing recusal requirement and warned that loosening the rule would erode public trust and invite self‑dealing; others urged clarity and quicker advisory opinions from the ethics agency. Representative public commenters included renters, labor and tenant advocates, nonprofit leaders and business representatives. For example, Eddie Lynn, speaking during public comment, said: \"We should be restoring trust in local government by strengthening, not weakening our ethics rules.\" Several renters'‑rights groups, union leaders and labor organizations also testified against the bill; others — including some business groups — voiced skepticism of the existing approach and urged clearer rules.

Committee members exchanged procedural and policy questions about district representation, the role of at‑large members, and whether the proposed changes would remove meaningful accountability. Central staff and the executive director explained that the draft ordinance would not affect state law prohibitions (for example, prohibitions on using an official position for personal gain or having an interest in city contracts) and that the proposed standards are meant to limit recusal to the most direct conflicts while preserving robust disclosure. Several council members said they wanted more time and recommended further conversation with the Ethics and Elections Commission; some also proposed a delayed effective date to allow additional review.

The committee voted on the bill as amended. Roll call on the committee motion to recommend passage showed two members voting in favor (Councilmembers Rivera and Solomon) and three abstentions (Councilmembers Hollingsworth, Kettle and Chair Nelson); the clerk stated \"2 in favor, 3 abstained,\" and the committee transmitted the bill to the June 3 City Council meeting. Multiple council members and public commenters said they will continue the discussion at full council and through additional briefings with the SEEC. The office of the Executive Director of the Ethics and Elections Commission indicated it would review and provide input on the adopted amendments.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Seattle City Council Governance, Accountability and Economic Development Committee 5/22/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Governance, Accountability and Economic Development Committee considered Council Bill 120978 on May 22, a proposed revision to Seattle's municipal code of ethics that rebalances disclosure and recusal rules and directs the Ethics and Elections Commission to provide faster guidance and an annual report.","taxTitle","Seattle, King County, Washington","taxId",2543,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6228732,"Committee backs downtown interactive kiosks, citing wayfinding and business benefits",2116,3965000,6081000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3467774-ce42d3da8d4992453a8f0629c85adb3b&start=3965&end=6081","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3467774-ce42d3da8d4992453a8f0629c85adb3b/thumbnail_3965000.jpg","/articles/6228732/Seattle/King-County/Washington/Committee-backs-downtown-interactive-kiosks-citing-wayfinding-and-business-benefits","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6228732-7f31867f969c2ae67945f6c113e0dcb1/orig.mp4?Expires=1775626413&Signature=gzCyCIZa78ZHWNoR7LK4Ctg-5MmfDSb9-FCLuLPU0YbJtrTFL3EexOAt-YuUkU10mMpXLOVwoPD5~9cf8uZC3r~4e-6l9VBnhvWS3UE1-6xrkQc5I4R2Nl1lurXMZ-FuyOJNgFJPlSm42HP1Ykv711gO1QdZslnongsvkcrTPFInP~sbBHTS7T4b4scVVspLFp25183ASc0F~XO0oPVrYUf3aVqIPuwoGRp9MCYeOT6wayfFciOjxN6T4C03wFRc4YeWvFwewXrF4irc8p7hA9Z~Qws4rxEDtsWHKYZ4d5ViI9FpksDtLwdUMIz5NFrJ72wm6LgVrHqokhN4sOwH8w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Committee members recommended adoption of Resolution 32170 on May 22, giving conceptual approval for the Downtown Seattle Association (DSA) to install, maintain and operate interactive IKE-branded kiosks in public rights-of-way in the Metropolitan Improvement District and participating business improvement areas.

Supporters told the Governance, Accountability and Economic Development Committee the kiosks would provide multilingual wayfinding, emergency-call access, free Wi‑Fi and a platform to promote local events and small businesses; SDOT staff and central‑staff analysts said the term‑permit ordinance includes maintenance, siting and content limits. Committee chair Sarah Nelson moved the resolution and the committee approved it 5-0.

The kiosks, proposed by the Downtown Seattle Association in partnership with a vendor identified in materials as IKE, are structured as a programmatic term permit rather than individual location permits. Central staff summarized the administration proposal as a two‑step process: (1) a committee-level resolution granting conceptual approval and (2) an ordinance establishing the programmatic permit with detailed conditions and a mayoral memorandum of understanding to address operating terms and revenue sharing. SDOT staff said final installation of any individual kiosk will require separate site‑specific permitting and review.

Supporters emphasized economic benefits. \"These kiosks will dramatically improve way finding,\" said Chris Johnston of the Downtown Seattle Association, adding the devices would connect visitors and residents to local businesses and cultural sites. Michael Woody, chief strategy officer at Business Seattle, said the kiosks are \"a dynamic tool to enhance the visitor experience and promote local businesses and support the broader economic recovery.\" Elden Tam with Friends of Waterfront Park said the kiosks are \"self funding, with no city resources to maintain and operate them.\"

SDOT and central staff described multiple conditions in the proposed ordinance: a 16.5‑year first phase (with a possible later phase requiring city approval), prohibitions on locating kiosks in certain special districts (waterfront, shoreline, historic preservation districts), standards to protect street trees, maintenance and bonding/insurance requirements, reporting obligations, prohibitions on off‑site advertising under existing sign code except as authorized by the permit, controls on brightness and motion (no flashing or strobe effects), and explicit limits on data collection and retention. SDOT said the term permit will require a public‑benefit mitigation plan — for example, streetscape improvements, trash removal and decluttering of block faces where kiosks are installed.

Central staff noted the Seattle Design Commission reviewed the proposal and voted 5‑4 against recommending it while offering design recommendations and public‑benefit conditions. Staff also said the mayor would sign an MOU with DSA that governs the programmatic details, including revenue sharing with BIAs that participate.

During discussion, committee members asked about vandalism, data collection and how neighborhood business districts without established BIAs would receive benefits. SDOT and DSA representatives said the permittee (DSA) and its vendor would be responsible for maintenance and cleanup; SDOT staff said the ordinance explicitly prohibits the kiosks from collecting personally identifiable information except when a user explicitly chooses a selfie or other opt‑in function. Councilmember Sara Nelson and others noted the program is intended to catalyze block‑level improvements (flower baskets, bike racks, bench repairs) at no direct city maintenance cost.

The committee voted to recommend adoption of Resolution 32170; roll call showed Councilmembers Rivera, Solomon, Hollingsworth, Kettle and Chair Nelson voting in favor. The committee sent the recommendation to the June 3 full City Council meeting for final consideration. The draft programmatic term‑permit ordinance will return to committee for further briefing and potential action later this summer.

Supporters said kiosks would help visitors and residents navigate downtown and highlight local businesses; opponents raised concerns during public comment about street clutter, moving images and off‑premises advertising. SDOT and central staff said the ordinance language includes limits intended to address those issues and that further implementation details will be finalized during the installation permitting phase.","Committee members recommended adoption of Resolution 32170 on May 22, giving conceptual approval for the Downtown Seattle Association (DSA) to install, maintain and operate interactive IKE kiosks in public rights‑of‑way in the Metropolitan Improvement District and participating business improvement areas.","actionData","errors"]

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Council committee advances ethics code revision after hours of public comment and several amendments

Committee backs downtown interactive kiosks, citing wayfinding and business benefits