CITY OF SEATTLE
ORDINANCE __________________
COUNCIL BILL __________________
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AN ORDINANCE relating to federal funding; authorizing department directors to accept certain grants and passthrough funding in 2025; and ratifying and confirming certain prior acts.
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WHEREAS, in January 2025, over the course of two days, the U.S. federal government announced that it was suspending federal grant and funding programs and then rescinded that announcement; and
WHEREAS, given this quickly changing landscape, to best serve the people of Seattle the Mayor and City Council wish to proactively grant City department directors authority to accept federal money when it is available to the City; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF SEATTLE AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Upon consultation with the City Budget Director, Council President, and Finance Committee Chair, The City of Seattle department directors or their designees are authorized to accept non-City funding from the U.S. federal government, including federal funding that passes through the State of Washington, King County, or other governmental entities or regional authorities, and are authorized to execute, deliver, and perform, on behalf of The City of Seattle, agreements for the purposes of receiving said funds.
Section 2. At the end of each month where such funding was accepted under the authority granted in Section 1 of this ordinance, the City Budget Director will prepare a list of accepted funding and share it with the members of the City Council and Council Central Staff.
Section 3. While Section 1 of this ordinance authorizes the acceptance of funding, changes to department appropriations must be approved by the City Council via the normal legislative process.
Section 4. Acceptance of federal funding should follow the established quarterly grant acceptance and appropriation ordinance schedule to the extent possible.
Section 5. The authority granted in Section 1 of this ordina...
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