February 7, 2024, to be day of remembrance for the expulsion of Chinese from Seattle. On February 7, 1886, a wave of anti-Chinese sentiment erupted into violence. Proclamation is not just a commemoration, but a call to action.

New council is taking first step towards a safer Seattle. Each of us campaigned with public safety being our number one priority. Joined by Chiefs of our three public safety departments. Public comment period will begin after agenda item one.

The Seattle City Council's Governance, Accountability, and Economic Development Committee meeting comes to order. Seattle Ethics and Elections Commission Director Wayne Barnett provides an overview of his office, which has existed for over 50 years to ensure officials act ethically and elections are properly run. Barnett details the commission's responsibilities - administering ethics and elections codes, overseeing lobbying and the Democracy Voucher program, and more. He outlines the commission's staffing, budget, and goals around transparency. Councilmembers ask questions about whistleblower complaints, modifying codes, and police accountability. After Barnett's presentation, Council President González adjourns the meeting at 3:47 pm.

The first committee of the Governance, Accountability and Economic Development Committee will meet February 8th, 2024. There are two items on the agenda for briefing and discussion: the future of the Seattle economy and a Seattle Ethics and Elections Commission overview. The committee will open to public comment.

The meeting of the Libraries, Education, and Neighborhoods committee will begin at 9:32 a.m. Public comment period will be moderated in the following manner. Each speaker will have 2 minutes. If there are no objections now, the agenda will be adopted.

The February 7, 2024 regularly scheduled meeting of the Land use committee will come to order. This is Tammy Morales' first council meeting as chair of the committee. Morales: We are severely short of the number of affordable housing units we need. She will open the floor to public comment.

Seattle City Council has proclaimed February 2024 as Black History Month. Proclamation is a celebration of the contributions and achievements of African Americans. Council welcomes esteemed leaders from our arts and cultural space to accept the proclamation

The transportation committee meets for the first time this year. There are four members present and one excused. Public comment should relate to items on today's agenda or within the purview of the transportation committee. If there are no objections, the agenda is adopted.

A roundup of the 1/30/2024 meeting: