The Seattle City Council Finance, Native Communities & Tribal Governments Committee voted 5-0 on March 19 to recommend confirmation of Kirsten Grove as director of the Department of Finance and Administrative Services (FAS). The committee’s recommendation will be sent to the full City Council for final confirmation at the March 25 meeting.

Grove, who has served as acting director for about two years, told the committee that FAS “is truly the backbone of the city and play[s] a part in almost every element of city service.” She described accomplishments under her interim leadership including expanded contracting opportunities for women- and minority-owned businesses, a citywide electric vehicle deployment milestone, and the launch of free neighborhood pet vaccination clinics.

The committee hearing opened with Clerk staff reading the short title for Appointment 3,094, Kirsten Grove, Director of the Department of Finance and Administrative Services, for a term to March 1, 2029. Interim Director Grove and Marco Lowe, chief operations officer in the Mayor’s Office, answered council questions about FAS priorities and department operations.

Committee members pressed Grove on several topics: timelines and next steps for the Ballard customer service center backend building project, coordination of capital work at Benaroya Hall and the adjoining Garden of Remembrance, priorities for delivering the voter-approved transportation levy, and improving the Find It Fix It constituent service experience. Grove said 30% design work on the Ballard backend project should be complete within a month and that the department is assessing foundation and peer structure issues before firming cost and schedule estimates. She said Benaroya Hall manages capital improvements for both its building and the Garden of Remembrance and that FAS receives facility updates on both.

On customer service and cross-department coordination, Grove described an internal reporting system that allows staff to escalate emergent facility or operational problems and said she sees opportunities to use data and technology to speed constituent-facing responses. Councilmembers emphasized constituent service, equitable distribution of facilities and resources across council districts, and the need to reduce siloed responses across departments.

Councilmembers spoke in support of Grove’s confirmation. Vice Chair Rivera and others detailed prior working relationships with Grove and urged continued emphasis on accountability, customer service, and support for priority-hire and contracting-equity goals.

The committee moved, seconded and then recorded a roll-call vote: Councilmember Kettle — Aye; Council President Nelson — Aye; Councilmember Saka — Aye; Vice Chair Rivera — Aye; Chair Dan Strauss — Yes. The clerk announced “5 in favor, 0 opposed.” The committee’s recommendation to confirm will be transmitted to the full council for final action on March 25.

Grove’s appointment, if confirmed by the full council, would run through March 1, 2029. Committee discussion and Grove’s responses indicated near-term priorities for FAS will include managing aging building stock and fleet, advancing electrification in partnership with the Office of Sustainability & Environment, and continuing outreach to small and priority businesses for contracting opportunities.

Votes at a glance

- Motion: Recommend confirmation of Kirsten Grove as Director, Department of Finance and Administrative Services (Appointment 3094). Mover: Chair Dan Strauss. Second: Vice Chair Rivera. Vote: 5–0 in favor. Outcome: recommended to full council for final confirmation on March 25, 2025.