Metropolitan King County Council - Regular Meeting

Good afternoon, everybody. I'd like to welcome everyone to the August 25th, 2026 meeting of the King County Council. I'm Jorge Barron. I'm vice chair of the council, but I'll be acting as chair today. We're joined by my colleagues, and this meeting is called to order. Before we begin, please join me in acknowledging that we're on the traditional lands of the Puget Salish peoples, past and present. We thank these caretakers of this land who have lived here and continue to live here since time immemorial, bringing their cultural ways of life and greatly enriching our communities. With that, Cler

Thank you very much. We have a quorum of the council. Next, please join us in the Pledge of Allegiance led by Council Member Fain.

Thank you very much. Vice Chair Dunn, may I please have a motion to approve the minutes of the August 18th, 2026 council meeting. Move approval of the August 18th minutes. Thank you very much. The motion is before us. Any questions, comments regarding the minutes? Seeing none, all those in favor please say aye. Aye. Any opposed say nay. The minutes are approved. Clerk, are there any additions to the council agenda? Thank you very much. We will now turn to the reading of items into the record and the hearing of public comment. Vice Chair Dunn, will you move to suspend the rules to hold an advertised public hearing on item 7, proposed ordinance 2022-0297?

Thank you. The motion is before us. Any questions or comments on that? All right. All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Any opposed, say nay. The motion carries. Item 7 will remain in the Local Services and Land Use Committee until the committee has taken action. It will then be placed on the council agenda for action. Clerk, will you please read the items into the record?

Thank you very much. The council will now take public comment on those ordinances and motions on today's agenda for action along with any topic directly related to county business. That is because it's the fourth Tuesday of the month. Listening to the public and taking into consideration the public's thoughts is an important part of our process and one that enhances our deliberations. In order to allow everyone equal time to provide comment, I would like to set the following ground rules. Please limit comments to two minutes, remain seated until time for your public comment, and do not make au

Thank you to everybody who provided public testimony. We're going to move on with our agenda, colleagues. As a reminder, we're going to Item 7. As a reminder, this item will remain in the Local Services and Land Use Committee until the committee has taken action. It will then be placed on the council agenda for action, but I'm going to call on Councilmember Fain to speak on this item.

Thank you, Chair. This proposed ordinance would effectively move the King County Fire Protection District number 24 towards dissolution. And last week, this body confirmed two new commissioners for Fire District 24. They're going to be sworn in shortly. I'd like to give them an opportunity to be seated and understand the district's current situation and weigh in on its future. before we move to dissolve that body. So for that reason, I'm asking that we defer this matter.

So thank you very much, Council Member Fain. Colleagues, we'll continue with our agenda. Vice Chair Dunn, will you please move the consent agenda item eight?

Thank you very much. That motion is before us. Clerk, would you please call the roll?

Thank you very much. By our vote, we have adopted proposed motion 20-26-0178. Next, we'll move to our reappointment consent agenda, items 9 through 11. Vice Chair Dunn, would you move the reappointment consent agenda, items 9 through 11?

Thank you. Clerk, would you please call the roll on the consent agenda?

Thank you very much by our vote. We have adopted proposed motions 2026-0208, 0210, and 0211. If there's no objection, the published marked agenda together with any changes made in today's meeting will stand approved as the first reading, referral, and re-referral of ordinances and motions, items 12 through 19 as listed. Before we adjourn, I want to give Council Member Dembowski an opportunity.

Well, thank you, Mr. Chair. This morning, I think many of us became aware of the passing of a national icon and a personal hero of mine from Sevierville, Tennessee, Dolly Parton. From a young childhood in Renton, watching on my dad's nine-inch black and white television. I always loved the Dolly Parton show, and her song, A Coat of Many Colors, spoke to me as someone whose clothes came more often from the Goodwill and Salvation Army. although sometimes on a good day, the Kmart, but she rose from poverty to really an advocate for all of the best of America. She was a champion for our LGBTQ comm

Thank you very much, Councillor Domeski. The chair has received the request to adjourn the August 25th, 2026 council meeting in memory of Tashawn Bennett Myers. And I'm going to call on Council Member Fain and then later Council Member Lewis as well. Council Member Fain.

Thank you so much, Chair. Today we are adjourning our meeting in memory of Tashawn R. Bennett Myers, who was lost to a tragic act of gun violence in SeaTac on July 27th, 2021. I want to recognize not only Tashawn, but also the large and loving family who continues to carry his loss. Tashawn was a father of eight, a son, a brother, a cousin, and a friend. His absence has left an immeasurable hole in the lives of those who loved him. Today we honor Tashawn's life and the memories his family continues to carry. I especially want to recognize the members of his family who have joined us here today

Thank you, Chair. ADMEND OR NOT ADMEND, BUT ADD ON TO OR PIGGYBACK ON THE COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL MEMBER FAIN. I WANT TO FIRST EXPRESS MY CONDOLENCES TO THE BENNETT-MYERS FAMILY. Not only have the family members been long-time District 2 residents, but one of Tashawn's family members was my son's kindergarten teacher. The loss of Tashawn, in addition to being a loss to his family, it was a blow to our community. The bright light of a life that is engaged and involved in community is a blessing to all. Too many of our bright lights have been extinguished by gun violence. The passage of time has a

Thank you, Council Member Lewis and Council Member Fain. Seeing no further business, this meeting of the King County Council is adjourned in memory of Tashaun R. Bennett Myers.