RESOLUTION __________________

A RESOLUTION regarding Initiative 137 concerning excess compensation payroll taxes to fund the Social Housing Developer (which the City Council determined not to enact on September 19, 2024); authorizing the City Clerk and the Executive Director of the Ethics and Elections Commission to take those actions necessary to enable proposed Initiative 137 to appear on the February 11, 2025 ballot and the local voters’ pamphlet in conjunction with the Payroll Expense Tax proposal (City Council Bill 120864), which is a proposed alternative measure dealing with the same subject matter in accordance with Charter Article IV; requesting the King County Elections Director to place the proposed Initiative 137 and its alternate on the February 11, 2025 election ballot in accordance with applicable law; and providing for the publication of such proposed Initiative Measure and its alternate.

WHEREAS, proponents submitted to the City Clerk a ballot measure petition concerning excess compensation payroll taxes to fund the Social Housing Developer (which the City Clerk designated as Seattle Initiative No. 137 in Clerk File No. 322950); and

WHEREAS, the City Clerk forwarded the petition to the Director of King County Elections for certification of whether the petition bears a sufficient number of valid signatures to qualify for introduction to the City Council as provided in Seattle City Charter Article IV, Section 1; and

WHEREAS, the Director of King County Elections has certified that the Initiative No. 137 petition bears sufficient valid signatures to qualify for introduction to the City Council as provided in Seattle City Charter Article IV, Section 1; and

WHEREAS, Seattle City Charter Article IV, Section 1 provides that, if the City Council does not enact an initiative bill or measure bearing a sufficient number of signatures, it shall be the duty of the City Council to submit the initiative measure to the voters of the City for their ratification or rejection; and

WHEREAS, in accordance with Seattle City Charter Article IV, Section 1 the City Council has determined not to enact Initiative 137 and has adopted an alternative, Council Bill 120864; and

WHEREAS, the City Council finds that Initiative 137 and Council Bill 120864 conflict in certain particulars; and

WHEREAS, the City Council seeks to place both Initiative 137 and its alternative on the ballot for consideration by the voters of the City of Seattle; NOW, THEREFORE,

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE THAT:

Section 1. In accordance with City Charter Article IV, the Council reviewed Initiative 137 and determined not to enact it by motion approved by the Council. The Council directs that Initiative 137 be placed on the February 11, 2025 ballot to be voted on by the people, in accordance with applicable law.

Section 2. Pursuant to City Charter Article IV, Section 1, in addition to placing Initiative 137 on the ballot, the Council adopted Council Bill (CB) 120864, an alternative measure dealing with the same subject as Initiative 137. CB 120864 and Initiative 137 conflict in several particulars. The Council is placing CB 120864 on the February 11, 2025 ballot to be voted on by the people at the same time as Initiative 137.

Section 3. The City Clerk is authorized and directed to take those actions necessary to place City of Seattle Initiative Measure No. 137 filed in Clerk File (CF) 322950, a copy of which is attached as Attachment A to this resolution, in conjunction with CB 120864, on the February 11, 2025 ballot, including but not limited to publishing the proposed Initiative Measure and its alternate as provided by the City Charter.

Section 4. The Executive Director of the Ethics and Elections Commission is authorized and requested to take those actions necessary to place information regarding City of Seattle Initiative Measure No. 137 in conjunction with CB 120864 in the February 11, 2025 voters’ pamphlet.

Section 5. The Director of Elections of King County, Washington, as ex officio supervisor of elections, is requested to call for a special election and place City of Seattle Initiative Measure No. 137 in conjunction with CB 120864 on the February 11, 2025 ballot, and in accordance with applicable law.

Adopted by the City Council the ________ day of _________________________, 2024, and signed by me in open session in authentication of its adoption this ________ day of _________________________, 2024.

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President ____________ of the City Council

Filed by me this ________ day of _________________________, 2024.

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Scheereen Dedman, City Clerk

(Seal)