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Council committee reviews bills to speed shelter site leasing and allocate $4.9M for 2026 expansion
Summary
Council staff told a committee the mayor's leasing‑authority bill would let the FAS director sign leases up to 55,000 sq ft and remove a per‑square‑foot cap; staff estimated $17.5M one‑time to stand up the first 500 beds and $17M/yr ongoing, with per‑unit annual operating costs estimated at $25k–$45k depending on service model.
The Seattle City Council's Budget and Neighborhoods Committee reviewed two linked ordinances on April 1 intended to accelerate the city's shelter expansion: Council Bill 121184 would expand the Finance and Administrative Services (FAS) director's authority to execute leases for shelter purposes, and Council Bill 121185 would adjust the 2026 budget to provide early resources for the mayor's proposal.
Nicole Vallestero‑Soper, Director of Policy and Innovation in the Mayor's Office, said the leasing bill raises the square‑footage threshold from 18,000 to 55,000 square feet, removes a per‑square‑foot cap that would otherwise be indexed to a low inflation figure, and allows the city to select and prepare raw land so operators can stand up…
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