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City Council Committee of the Whole | July 21, 2026
Published: Jul 21, 2026
City Focuses on Housing Stability Amid Rising Costs, Legal Aid, and Rental Assistance Needs
The final part of the housing series, 'Keep People Housed,' focused on maintaining housing stability amidst rising costs and external factors. Data shows significant increases in median rent (up 50% since 2015) and home sale prices (doubled since 2015). Nearly one in four households is cost-burdened, with over 50% of income going to housing for severely cost-burdened households. The city contracts with Eastside Legal Assistance for free civil legal services to low-income tenants, providing 268 hours of support to 52 households last year, addressing issues like rent disputes, lease violations, and habitability concerns. Code enforcement received 45 requests in 2025, primarily for health and habitability issues. The city also invested $286,000 in rental assistance programs in 2024, with high demand noted by providers. Eviction cases are growing, disproportionately affecting communities of color. The city has updated its housing resources website and its homeless outreach team works with those at risk of losing housing. A new Homeless Outreach Administrator, Xavier Wright, has joined the team. The council's role includes long-term investment in these programs and staff resources, with a draft human services and housing strategic plan expected for review in September. A study session on funding recommendations is scheduled for September 22nd.
Q2 Capital Investment Program Updates Include Bike Lanes, Park Improvements, and Teen Center Design
The Public Works Department provided updates on the Capital Investment Program (CIP) for Q2. Specific projects mentioned include the Bel Red Buffered Bike Lane, expected to finish this summer, and the Idlewood Park parking lot expansion, with site improvements planned for early next year and paving for early next summer to minimize disruption during peak park use. The Idlewood Park Restrooms and Concession Stand Building rebuild is being timed to lessen continuous construction impact. Design for the teen center rebuild is progressing, with engagement with design-build teams and a scheduled progressive design build process approval by the state board. Questions were raised about the ADA curb ramp program, its achievements, and limitations, with a commitment to provide an update. Community engagement strategies for the Idlewood Park projects and teen center are being developed.
City Council Reviews Proposed 2027 Community Development Block Grant Fund Allocations
The committee discussed the proposed allocation of estimated 2027 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. The city operates under an interlocal agreement with the county for CDBG administration, acting as a joint agreement city. This allows direct allocation of a portion of CDBG funds for public services, capital projects, and administrative expenses, while the remainder is managed by the county. CDBG capital funds have specific restrictions for public improvement or parks projects, and due to small amounts, the city partners with ARCH to leverage funds for regional housing projects. The funds cannot supplant existing funds, only support newly funded or expanded programs. Staff reviews proposals for eligibility and capacity. The committee was asked to approve moving this to consent on September 1st. Contingency plans for fluctuating federal award amounts were discussed, and reporting requirements for federal funding were clarified, including quarterly reporting and biennial monitoring by the county. A scope of work with Porchlight for the Eastside Men's Shelter, combining CDBG funds with general funds due to the estimated $49,000 allocation, was mentioned.
Q2 Police Activity Report Shows Declines in Most Crime Categories, Uptick in Arrests
Chief Lowe presented the Q2 Police Activity Report, highlighting trends in various crime categories. The Drone as First Responder (DFR) program shows a 90-second response time, cancels ground response 20% of the time, and is first on scene 84.5% of the time. Overall calls for service are up 3.5%, and arrests are up 17.8%. Significant reductions were noted in auto thefts (down 65%), residential burglaries (down 8%), and shoplifts (down 17.5%). Traffic collisions are up 15%, while property crimes are down 34.5% and violent crime is down 64.5%. Assaults are up 8.1%, with 50% being domestic violence-related. A traffic collision dashboard will be available to the public, and emphasis patrols are being conducted in high-collision areas. Primary collision factors are speeding and distracted driving.
Community Resource Officer Program Contract Renewal Discussed
The committee discussed the renewal of the contract with Lake Washington School District for the Community Resource Officer (CRO) Program, formerly known as the School Resource Officer (SRO) Program. There were no significant changes or modifications to the contract. The dashboard used to track CRO involvement instances will be shared again before the final vote.
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Committee of the Whole - Public Safety and Human Services
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