CITY OF SEATTLE
ORDINANCE __________________
COUNCIL BILL __________________
title
AN ORDINANCE amending Ordinance 127156, which adopted the 2025 Budget, including the 2025-2030 Capital Improvement Program (CIP); changing appropriations to various departments and budget control levels, and from various funds in the Budget to support the City's efforts to expeditiously deliver the Sound Transit 3 program permit review and other oversight; creating exempt and nonexempt positions; and ratifying and confirming certain prior acts; all by a 3/4 vote of the City Council.
body
WHEREAS, the 2025 Adopted and 2026 Endorsed Budgets included a reserve budget in Finance General for the purpose of supporting Sound Transit 3 (ST3) program related staffing needs; and
WHEREAS, release of the 2025 reserve is predicated on approval of a ST3 Staffing and Resource Plan; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance 127228, passed by the Council in June 2025, makes changes to development regulation and processes applicable to light rail transit facilities to streamline the permit review process or resolve code conflicts; and
WHEREAS, permitting for the West Seattle Link Extension is expected to expand substantially in Q4 2025, construction is expected to begin in 2027, and service is anticipated to begin in 2032. The Ballard Link Extension is still in the planning stages and opening of the extension is scheduled for 2039; and
WHEREAS, timing of the staffing increase has been aligned with expected receipt of Sound Transit 3 permit submissions in late 2025, the anticipated need to support City ST3 staffing and consultant support from the reserve amount for 2025 is $2,431,947; and
WHEREAS, the City and Sound Transit have financial agreements to bill and collect fees on bodies of work that are necessary to advance project design and permitting but that are not billable through permit fees; and
WHEREAS, it is anticipated that a large portion of staff time required to implement the light rail code amendments ...
Click here for full text