FOLLOWUP: A Cleaner Alki funding, noise enforcement, unpermitted-vendor studies among first set of budget changes proposed by Councilmember Saka

We’ve been reporting that City Council budget amendment proposals would start going public today, after previews from District 1 Councilmember Rob Saka and local groups about what he might propose adding to the budget. The presentations start with a 9:30 am meeting tomorrow, and agenda details for those first presentations are out now. On the agenda under Seattle Public Utilities-related budget amendments, one that could give a boost to local cleanup group A Cleaner Alki, which as we’ve reported is working to replace lost grant money – here’s the amendment number and the summary by council staff:

SPU-002-A-1 – Increase SPU by $100,000 GF for addi�onal community cleanup services through community partners

(Summary) The funding provided by this CBA is intended to support additional neighborhood cleanup events and activities through established community partners, such as A Cleaner Alki in West Seattle, that have a proven track record of collaborating with City departments and are in the community performing services on a weekly basis. The funding is also intended to support the launch of a new pilot program to fund volunteer cleaning ambassadors and periodic neighborhood cleanups located in Morgan Junction, Alaska Junction, and Admiral Junction.

The intent is for SPU to contract with community organizations to provide cleanup and maintenance services in City parks, greenbelts, and rights-of-way, including litter pickup, vegetation management, and beautification projects. The funding may also be used for cleaning supplies and disposal services, coordination of community cleanup events, and data collection on litter volumes and types.

Also on Tuesday’s agenda, under Mayor’s Office-related amendments, Saka proposes two that relate to issues raised in West Seattle, primarily Alki:

MO-002S-A-1Request that MO convene departments to study and report on noise enforcement to better address problem noise viola�ons citywide

(summary) This Statement of Legislative Intent (SLI) would request that the Mayor’s Office (MO) lead a comprehensive policy review on the City’s approach to regulation of excessive noise, including vehicle noise and disruptive noise occurring on sidewalks and rights of way in the stadium district and citywide.

This SLI would request the MO work collaboratively with the Seattle Police Department, Department of Finance and Administrative Services, Seattle Department of Transportation, and Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections to evaluate current enforcement practices, interdepartmental coordination, and develop a coordinated interdepartmental strategy and implementation approach to more efficiently and effectively address excessive noise violations to include clear guidelines around enforcement, mitigation best practices, education, and interventions, along with roles and responsibilities of relevant City departments.

A report with findings and specific implementation recommendations to improve the City’s noise enforcement approach should be submitted to the Public Safety Committee and the Central Staff Director by June 1, 2026.

MO-003S-A-1Request MO to lead a policy review on unpermitted food and merchandise vending

(summary) Council requests that the Mayor’s Office (MO) lead a comprehensive policy review on the City’s approach to licensing and enforcement of unpermitted vending. The Mayor’s budget would include $1.8 million in new funding to support Joint Enforcement Team and unlicensed vending enforcement.

To better understand the strategy for the use of these and existing resources, the MO is requested to evaluate current enforcement practices, interdepartmental coordination, and strategies for addressing public health and safety concerns related to unlicensed vending. Council further requests an understanding of how the Department of Transportation, Office of Economic Development, Seattle Police Department, Department of Finance & Administrative Services, Seattle Parks & Recreation, other critical City partners, and King County Public Health can best be coordinated to meet the needs this issue presents.

The review should include best practices from other cities and recommend policy options that balance enforcement with pathways to compliance for small business entrepreneurs and supports community well-being. The report should identify strategies for immediate implementation, which address potential accessibility, equity concerns and relevant barriers associated with unlicensed vending.

A report with findings and implementation recommendations that are immediately actionable should be submitted to the Transportation Committee of the City Council by April 30, 2026, in preparation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

(Also under Mayor’s Office, Saka has an amendment proposing a study of tree policy.) Those are just the first of Saka’s notable proposed amendments; SDOT and Parks-related amendments (such as the potential Morgan Junction Park skate dot and Camp Long restoration items we’ve mentioned) will be on the agenda for another council meeting Wednesday, and those specific documents are not yet linked – we’ll publish a story when they are. The proposals will go through council review before a determination of whether they make it into the “balancing package” that the budget chair – this year, Councilmember Dan Strauss – puts forward. The budget will be finalized next month.

10 Replies to "FOLLOWUP: A Cleaner Alki funding, noise enforcement, unpermitted-vendor studies among first set of budget changes proposed by Councilmember Saka"

  • Sarah October 27, 2025 (12:16 pm)

    A Cleaner Alki is a great community organization, but it worries me to see them being proposed as a long-term solution for the city to contract with. I know we’re in a budget crisis, but don’t “solutions” like this further mask the gap between what we need and what our city’s actual capabilities are? The work is needed but these should be city jobs, with union benefits. Relying on volunteer labor to maintain our public spaces while increasing police budgets and AI “investments” feels really icky to me. 

    • Lauren October 27, 2025 (1:06 pm)

      That’s a great callout, Sarah

    • Anne October 27, 2025 (1:38 pm)

      Doesn’t feel “ icky” to me. 

    • WS Res October 27, 2025 (2:14 pm)

      Very good point. These should be paid jobs that let people live in the city.

  • Foop October 27, 2025 (12:16 pm)

    2million to address street vendors after Saka voted against better zoning for corner stores, people are getting hit by reckless drivers while Saka fights against traffic calming and safer streets? This is absolutely ridiculous. It’s clear who’s being prioritized here and it’s not the average citizen.

    • WSB October 27, 2025 (1:22 pm)

      Reading the summary, I believe the almost $2 million was the mayor’s original proposal for the JET team (which does more than vendor enforcement) – there is no $ amount appended to Saka’s request for a study.

  • David October 27, 2025 (1:48 pm)

    Every time I hear Saka’s name I think about the loss of parking at the Duwamish Head area viewpoint where we parked for years to drink our coffee and look at the city straight on from the safety of our car every Saturday morning – 

    • Walkerws October 27, 2025 (2:21 pm)

      That’s one of the few good things Saka has done 

    • Kyle October 27, 2025 (4:22 pm)

      Would it help to know that removing the parking spaces didn’t help the partying or late noise gatherings at all? 

  • k October 27, 2025 (3:37 pm)

    Curious to see what they’re cutting to fund these things.  Harrell is fiscally clueless, having to resort to raiding JumpStart revenues over and over to fund basic services, and throwing money to start projects there’s no funding or plans to continue.  There are definitely things we need that the city should fund (Camp Long, for starters), but there is also fat that can be trimmed when they’re making adjustments.  I’m happy to see Saka moving away from personal pet projects, but would be actually impressed if he had any other solutions besides going into more debt to fund the newest round if ideas.  I hear there’s a couple million to be saved by leaving Curby just as it is…

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