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.
**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…
- **March 24, 2026:** Next City Council meeting; Comcast franchise agreement expected for full council vote - **Summer 2026:** Executive report due back on data collection and sharing practices review (Resolution 32194) - **April 21, 2026:** Councilmember Strauss will be excused from this…