CB 121233 — Version 1 https://webapi.legistar.com/v1/seattle/Matters/17247/Texts/18611 Screen Reader Users: Make sure settings include reading strikethrough and underline font attributes. The City of Seattle Ordinance Council Bill ..title An ordinance relating to closing public streets to maintain or enhance public safety; authorizing the Director of Transportation to close streets; amending Section 11.16.125 of the Seattle Municipal Code; declaring an emergency; and establishing an immediate effective date; all by a 3/4 vote of the City Council. ..body Recitals: Under Section 11.16.125 of the Seattle Municipal Code, the Director of Transportation is currently authorized to close alleys for public safety reasons. The same public safety reasons that require closing an alley arise with streets. Therefore, Be it ordained by The City of Seattle as follows: Section 1. The City finds and declares: A. Group based violence, in neighborhoods off Aurora Ave N, has led to shots fired being up eight percent in May, with significant incidents of shots being exchanged between groups at N 98th St/Linden Ave N and N 102nd St/Linden Ave N (both locations are one block off Aurora Ave N). This rise in shootings between groups coincides with the onset of the FIFA World Cup and an increased number of women on Aurora Ave N and people visiting Seattle. B. Neighbor and resident concern and outcry led to neighbors taking it upon themselves to block streets west of Aurora Ave N, blocking N 97th St, N 98th St, and N 102nd St. During the time these streets were blocked from May 24 to 28, 2026, no shots were fired on these streets or further into the neighborhood. C. Thirty-six hours after these roadblocks were removed on May 28, group-based violence returned with shots fired on N 102nd St, leading to neighbors organizing a march that shut down part of Aurora Ave N, between N 95th St and N 109th St for a few hours. These residents have voiced need for immediate safety measures as the influx of people in Seattle will continue to rise throughout the FIFA tournament, ending in mid-July, and summer tourism season. D. These immediate measures are vital in the North Aurora corridor, where there is already a high concentration of sex workers with group-based violence connected to it, especially when considering the known influx of tourism, commercial sex markets, and sex trafficking brought about by FIFA tournaments. E. Given the public safety impacts of gun violence, demonstrated clearly on Aurora, this legislation must be implemented immediately to prevent an imminent threat to public health and safety. Section 2. Section 11.16.125 of the Seattle Municipal Code, last amended by Ordinance 126444, is amended as follows: 11.16.125 Director of Transportation-Authority-Street and alley closures The Director of Transportation is authorized: A. To close, or authorize closure, of any street or alley or portion thereof to any or all traffic pursuant to the provisions of this Subtitle I; B. To close or authorize closure of any street or alley for entry or travel by the general public in order to make repairs or for maintenance ((of the street)); to accommodate construction on abutting properties or of utilities in the street or alley or a special use of an abutter under permit; to protect the public from a health or sanitation hazard, a hazard or obstruction in the street or alley, or an unsafe structure on abutting property; or based on a recommendation of the Chief of Police that ((such)) a street or alley closure is necessary in order to prevent criminal activity occurring in or emanating from the street or alley. Unless otherwise ordered, the street or alley shall remain open to access by the following persons: owners and occupants of the abutting properties and their guests; agents of utilities with facilities in the street or alley or serving the abutting properties; government employees and emergency personnel in the performance of their duties; and permittees under a street use permit issued pursuant to Title 15. In determining the closure of the street or alley, the Director of Transportation shall determine the anticipated duration of the closure. Upon ordering the closure, the Director shall cause the area to be posted with signs or barricades stating the hours of closure; * * * Section 3. Based on the findings of fact set forth in Section 1 of this ordinance, the Council finds and declares that this ordinance is a public emergency ordinance, which shall take effect immediately and is necessary for the protection of the public health, safety, and welfare. Section 4. By reason of the findings set out in this ordinance, and the emergency that is declared to exist, this ordinance shall become effective immediately upon its passage by a 3/4 vote of the Council, and its approval by the Mayor, as provided in Article IV, subsection 1.I of the Charter of the City. Passed by a 3/4 vote of all the members of the City Council and signed in open session in authentication of its passage on . President of the City Council on . Katie B. Wilson, Mayor Attested on . Scheereen Dedman, City Clerk Seal LEG Emergency Street Closure ORD Calvin Chow D1 2 Template last revised April 2, 2026 DEPT Short Name of Legislation ORD Author's Name V1 2