Backing SFD overtime, funding for events like Umoja Fest, Madison Park traffic calming, and shutting down ‘spodies’ along Lake Washington — Hollingsworth’s ‘Day Two’ budget proposals

Capitol Hill’s Fire Station 25 (Image: City of Seattle)

A second day of the Seattle City Council’s “Amendment Season” will continue the challenging balance of the city’s representatives pushing for constituent causes and district earmarks against a backdrop of reined-in spending as Mayor Katie Wilson tries to lead the way to a 2027-2028 budget that solves a potential $175 million deficit without cutting vital services or adding new taxes.

Wednesday’s council budget committee session will see representatives including District 3 leader Council President Joy Hollingsworth rolling out spending proposals across five departments: the Office of Economic Development, Seattle Department of Transportation, Seattle Fire Department, Office of Arts and Culture, and Seattle Parks and Recreation.

Hollingsworth’s “Day Two” firepower will mostly be put behind her co-sponsorships as aligns with colleagues in an attempt to restore front-line emergency capacity with $7.1 million for Seattle Fire Department overtime, funding ongoing pothole repair, supporting storefront vandalism recovery, and preserving a district-directed transportation project funding program that the mayor office wants scrapped and critics have complained is ineffective and inefficient.

Meanwhile, Hollingsworth’s lead amendments center heavily on cultural preservation in the Central District, localized quality-of-life improvements, and basic municipal services. As a prime sponsor, she is directing her focus toward the creative economy and economic equity by championing investments in underrepresented arts programming including $3 million for cultural initiatives in disadvantaged communities, backing for events like Umoja Fest and On The Block on Capitol Hill, and small business support via Tabor 100, alongside targeted District 3 infrastructure improvements like Leschi and Madison Park pedestrian safety and Washington Park repairs.

CHS reported on Hollingsworth’s Day One priorities here the opening budget committee amendment session addressed 16 departments including the City Attorney’s office, civil rights, the Office of Housing, the Department of Neighborhoods, planning, finance, and utility spending.

With the focus on eliminating the deficit without cutting vital services, councilmembers are describing a limited playing field with little room for maneuvering or negotiation and are buttressing their district and neighborhood needs as part of wider citywide programs.

Tuesday, Hollingsworth soldiered on despite the deficit constrictions, advocating for and defending funding investments in her district such as $200,000 for the MLK F.A.M.E. Community Center and ongoing resources for the Central District and Southeast Seattle Reinvestment Fund, framing those proposals around historical equity, divestment, and community preservation.

“Standing up a sustainable fund that will continue to help direct funding to those communities with programming, cultural events, neighborhood events, building communities, and stimulating the economy is what we need in Seattle,” Hollingsworth said Tuesday about the $5 million reinvestment fund proposal.

Meanwhile, Wednesday, the D3 council member is also signing up for the city to take on the near impossible — shutting down high schoolers from organizing “spodies” — late night parties — in the city’s parks along Lake Washington.

Here is a look at the budget committee’s second day of proposals:

Key Co-Sponsorships

• Fire Department Overtime Restoration: Co-sponsored with Strauss and Kettle. Restores $7.1 million in 2027 and $7.1 million in 2028 to reverse a proposed reduction in SFD daily minimum firefighter staffing from 222 down to 209.
• Firefighter Hiring and Recruitment Review: Co-sponsored with Saka and Kettle. Requests a comprehensive report from SFD and the Public Safety Civil Service Commission by July 1, 2027, evaluating recruitment timelines, testing barriers, candidate attrition, and regional hiring competitiveness.
• District Project Fund: Co-sponsored with Saka and Kettle. Adds $7 million in 2027 and $7 million in 2028 ongoing to fund the district-directed traffic safety improvement program.
• Back to Business Storefront Repair Fund: Co-sponsored with Rivera and Saka. Earmarks $1.8 million to maintain citywide storefront repair grants and security improvement reimbursements for small businesses impacted by property damage and vandalism.
• Pothole Repair Master Program: Co-sponsored with Saka and Rivera. Restores $1.25 million in 2027 to preserve SDOT maintenance personnel and retain the city’s target 72-hour turnaround time for pothole repairs.
• Commercial Corridor and Citywide Park Investments: Co-sponsored targeted citywide initiatives including preliminary funding for Belltown’s Portal Park ($600,000 in 2028), ongoing Indigenous ecological stewardship of Wolf Creek Trail at Discovery Park with United Indians of All Tribes ($210,000 ongoing), upper-floor commercial vacancy activation in Pioneer Square ($200,000), and street cleaning services in the University District ($100,000).

Capitol Hill & Central District Proposals

• District 3 Pedestrian and Traffic Safety: Sponsored by Hollingsworth (co-sponsored by Rivera and Saka). Earmarks $400,000 from the 2024 Transportation Levy in SDOT’s Vision Zero program for two high-priority District 3 safety projects. Funds the installation of Leschi neighborhood traffic calming measures at 16th Ave S at S Washington St and 31st Ave S at E Terrace St to slow traffic and reduce fatal and serious crashes, alongside focused upgrades for crosswalk and intersection daylighting and parking sign updates along E Madison St in Madison Park between E Blaine St and E Howe St (including 41st and 42nd Ave E).
• Lake Washington Park Misuse and Operational Study: Co-sponsored by Hollingsworth (sponsored by Lin, co-sponsored by Foster). Statement of Legislative Intent requesting SPR to report by June 1, 2027, on operational and design changes at Leschi Park, Madrona Park, Seward Park, and Stan Sayres Memorial Park to address neighborhood safety and quality-of-life impacts from excessive noise and after-hours parties, evaluating CPTED strategies, new fencing, swing gates, and vehicle barriers.
• Umoja Fest & African American Cultural Celebration: Sponsored by Hollingsworth (co-sponsored by Saka and Rivera). Adds $75,000 in 2027 and $75,000 in 2028 under a proviso to provide dedicated ongoing backing for major public events celebrating and unifying the African American community and African Diaspora culture in the Central District, such as Umoja Fest.
• Summer Creative Marketplace & Maker Support: Sponsored by Hollingsworth (co-sponsored by Juarez and Saka). Adds $200,000 in 2027 for a creative marketplace supporting the local creative ecosystem through free public arts programming and weekly summer markets for local makers and sellers, highlighting neighborhood models like Capitol Hill’s On The Block.
• Underrepresented Business Technical Assistance: Sponsored by Hollingsworth (co-sponsored by Juarez and Saka). Adds $150,000 in 2027 to provide individual business consulting, city contract guidance, and technical support to preserve small businesses in communities furthest from economic opportunity, intended to support organizations like Tabor 100 to build on the Liberty Project.
• Washington Park Renovations: Sponsored by Hollingsworth (co-sponsored by Juarez and Kettle). Adds $50,000 General Fund in 2027 to Seattle Parks and Recreation’s Major Maintenance and Asset Management project for renovations addressing damage caused by vandalism at Washington Park, including planning and development for an art installation and related site improvements.

Other Hollingsworth-Sponsored Amendments

• Arts Programming for Disadvantaged Communities: Sponsored by Hollingsworth (co-sponsored by Foster and Rinck). Adds $3 million in 2027 to the Office of Arts and Culture under a proviso dedicated to individuals and organizations activating spaces, hosting events, or producing media focused on the arts, culture, history, or heritage of disadvantaged communities.
• Arts Sustainability & Funding Assessment: Sponsored by Hollingsworth (co-sponsored by Foster and Juarez). Directs ARTS to deliver a comprehensive policy and budget assessment by June 1, 2027, reviewing the viability and limitations of Admissions Tax revenue, long-term arts funding options, staffing gaps, program capacity, and artist-support models from other major cities.
• Nature Education and Agriculture for Underserved Youth: Sponsored by Hollingsworth (co-sponsored by Juarez and Saka). Adds $200,000 in 2027 to fund hands-on programs providing outdoor learning, farming, gardening, environmental stewardship, and nature-based recreation for historically underserved youth, such as Red Barn Ranch.
• Community Gallery Free Public Events: Sponsored by Hollingsworth (co-sponsored by Juarez and Saka). Adds $150,000 in 2027 to support free public events at gallery spaces presenting rotating exhibitions, emerging artists, and cultural visual storytelling, highlighting Colman Commons.
• Youth Hip-Hop Mentorship: Sponsored by Hollingsworth (co-sponsored by Juarez and Saka). Adds $100,000 in 2027 for a nonprofit hip-hop artist association providing career development, mentorship, and performance opportunities for emerging and underrepresented artists, highlighting The Residency.
• Independent Artist Support Agency: Sponsored by Hollingsworth (co-sponsored by Juarez and Saka). Adds $50,000 in 2027 to fund an artist support agency (such as How2Listen) to produce three artist-led cultural nightlife gatherings for adults 40+ facing barriers to economic self-sufficiency, alongside two youth artist development and training activations.

Between Tuesday and Thursday, council members will review dozens of Council Budget Actions and Statements of Legislative Intent across City Hall before budget committee chair Dan Strauss unveils his balancing package next week.

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