CITY OF SEATTLE

ORDINANCE __________________

COUNCIL BILL __________________

AN ORDINANCE relating to City streets; changing the name of the portion of Thomas St between 1st Ave N and 2nd Ave N to Lenny Wilkens Way; and superseding the relevant portions of Ordinance 4044, Ordinance 89910, Ordinance 102981, and any other ordinance to the extent inconsistent; and ratifying and confirming certain prior acts.

WHEREAS, Lenny Wilkens is a legendary basketball player and coach, having been inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame and inducted three times to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (as an NBA player, NBA coach and assistant coach of the 1992 Olympic “Dream Team”), been named 13 times an NBA All-Star, has won two Olympic Gold Medals in 1992 and 1996 and has coached more games than any other coach in NBA history; and

WHEREAS, Lenny Wilkens played four of his 15 years as an NBA player for the Seattle Supersonics (1969-72), three of which he served as head coach for the team while also continuing as the team’s starting point guard, and then, after returning to the team in 1977 as head coach, he led that season’s team to a Western Conference Championship; followed by another conference championship during the 1978-79 season that culminated in a 5-game NBA Finals win over the Washington Bullets to claim the Sonics’ one and only World Championship title; and

WHEREAS, in addition to continuing to inspire Seattle sports fans, Lenny Wilkens continues to live in and serve the Seattle community as the founder and chair of the Lenny Wilkens Foundation for Children where he has raised over $7.5 million for the Odessa Brown Clinic, as well as other organizations that provide care and opportunities for local disadvantaged youth in Seattle; and

WHEREAS, City departments have reviewed this proposal and agree that no significant, negative impacts would result from this proposal; NOW, THEREFORE,

BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF SEATTLE AS FOLLOWS:

Section 1. The name of the portion of Thomas St between 1st Ave N and 2nd Ave N is changed to Lenny Wilkens Way, superseding the relevant portions of Ordinance 4044, Ordinance 89910, Ordinance 102981, and any other ordinance to the extent inconsistent.

Section 2. Any act consistent with the authority of this ordinance taken after its passage and prior to its effective date is ratified and confirmed.

Section 3. This ordinance shall take effect and be in force 30 days after its approval by the Mayor, but if not approved and returned by the Mayor within ten days after presentation, it shall take effect as provided by Seattle Municipal Code Section 1.04.020.

Passed by the City Council the ________ day of _________________________, 2021, and signed by me in open session in authentication of its passage this _____ day of _________________________, 2021.

____________________________________

President ____________ of the City Council

Approved / returned unsigned / vetoed this ________ day of _________________, 2021.

____________________________________

Jenny A. Durkan, Mayor

Filed by me this ________ day of _________________________, 2021.

____________________________________

Monica Martinez Simmons, City Clerk

(Seal)