CITY OF SEATTLE
ORDINANCE __________________
COUNCIL BILL __________________
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AN ORDINANCE amending Ordinance 126955, which adopted the 2024 Budget; changing appropriations to various departments and budget control levels, and from various funds in the Budget, imposing provisos; and ratifying and confirming certain prior acts.
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WHEREAS, the Office for Civil Rights managed the implementation of a Participatory Budgeting process to determine investments of $27.25 million with the goals of directly investing in historically disadvantaged communities, including Black, Indigenous, and other communities of color consistent with applicable law, and increasing the ownership and participation of Seattle residents in solutions to the city's pressing needs; and
WHEREAS, community members during the Participatory Budgeting process developed and co-designed 18 proposals within the five priority investment areas of Housing and Physical Spaces, Mental Health, Youth and Children, Economic Development, and Crisis and Wellness, from nearly 500 submitted ideas; and
WHEREAS, ranked-choice voting of the 18 proposals was opened from October 10 through November 12, 2023, resulting in the selection of six proposals, including 1) Native Youth: Past, Present, and Future ($7.2 million), for a Duwamish-oriented community center; 2) People Not Police Crisis Response Team ($2 million), for mental health professionals to serve as first responders to mental health crises; 3) Housing Support ($2 million), for housing navigation and assistance services for people experiencing homelessness or housing instability; 4) Public Restrooms ($7.2 million), for staffing and maintenance of public restrooms and hygiene facilities; 5) Urban Farming and Food Equity ($7 million), for green spaces and access to fresh food, local business ownership, and farming education; 6) Housing Support for Youth ($1.85 million), for connecting youth and young adults to supportive housing or rental assistance; and
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