AN ORDINANCE relating to City employment; amending Sections 4.14.140 and 4.14.150 of the Seattle Municipal Code to expand eligibility for the moving expenses reimbursement benefit for certain individuals; and ratifying and confirming certain prior acts.
Moving on to our agenda to agenda item three. I understand it's Councilmember Herbert's piece of legislation. Madam Clerk, will you please read item three into the record? Agenda item three Council Bill 120351 An ordinance relating to city employment amending sections 4.14.140 and 4.14.150 of the Seattle Municipal Code to expand eligibility for the moving expenses reimbursement benefit for certain individuals. Thank you, Councilmember Herbold. Thank you so much. This is follow up legislation to implement Ordinance 12 6589 requesting that the Seattle Department of Human Resources update personnel rules to allow the city to pay for relocation expenses for a broader range of salaries, not just the top tiers, as is the previous practice. This would include, for example, police officers and other hard to fill positions that are critical to to performing and delivering city services. The Seattle Department of Human Resources drafted a change to provide the requested flexibility under the council's previous legislation. This bill would make the necessary changes to the municipal code to reflect those changes. As a follow up, to implement the intent of the previous bill. I really appreciate Council President Juarez referring this to to the Council directly and to also direct folks to review the memo from Council Central Staff Ali Pucci about the legislation that she had sent already. Just again, noting existing rules, note that the. The reimbursement of relocation costs is a is applicable when the city is unable to recruit persons in the immediate employment area who possess the unique skills, expertize and or educational qualifications. As noted in the fiscal note. The maximum reimbursable allowance for qualified moving expenses is $25,049, and employees must relocate to a distance that meets the Internal Revenue Services distance test, typically about 50 miles to qualify, I encourage my colleagues support for this bill. Thank you. Yes, Madam Clerk. I mean, I may have jumped the gun on this. I have to page eight. So I think I was supposed to move to pass Council Bill and look for a second and then ask Council member Herbert to speak to it. So do I do that now, Madam Clerk? Yes, you do. Thank you. I moved to pass Council Bill 120351. Is there a second? Second. Thank you. And Councilor Herbert did speak to the bill, so thank you for that, Councilmember Herbert. Are there any other comments regarding Councilmember Herbert's legislation? All right. Not seeing any. Will the clerk please call the roll on the passage of the bill? Councilmember Peterson. Yes. Council members want? Yes. Council member Strauss. Yes. Council Member Herbold. Yes. Council member Lewis. Yes. Councilmember Nelson, I. Council president was. High. Six in favor, nine opposed. Thank you. The bill passes, the chair will sign it and please affix my signature to the legislation. Moving on to the Transportation and Seattle Public Utilities Committee, it's Councilmember Peterson. It's item number four. Madam, could we please read item number four to the record, the report of the Transportation and Seattle Public Utilities Committee Agenda Item four Appointment 0219 for the appointment of Andrew Leigh as General Manager and Chief Executive Officer of Seattle Public Utilities for attempted December 31st, 2025.